Category: Pondering Peace
Faith in Action during Election Season
In April of 2020, the Buttry Center Advisory Group agreed on the following mission statement: “The mission of the Buttry Center is to theologically engage, educate, and connect people of faith for seeking justice, nurturing peace, and caring for creation.” This has been a guide for planning programs, activities, and writing throughout the ensuing years. Each goal of this mission statement has substantial biblical and theological grounding.
In Micah 6:8, the prophet tells us that what the Lord requires of us is “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Jesus agreed with this and declared that the weightier matters that are to be practiced are “justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). Biblical justice is especially concerned about those who are most vulnerable – the poor, the immigrant, widows, and children. Jesus also taught us to love our enemies and bless those who are peacemakers. He embraced Isaiah’s vision of shalom in which humanity lives in harmony with one another and with all creatures of the earth. And in the Genesis narrative, God is said to have created humanity and placed them in the garden “to till and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15), that is, to care for creation so that it may flourish.
This mission statement with its biblical grounding invites us to consider the question: what are the most important things we can be doing to seek justice, nurture peace, and care for creation at this point in time? In considering this, I have come to the conclusion that probably one of the most important things we can do right now is to throw our efforts into electing leaders at all levels who align well with these priorities that emerge out of our faith. Those we elect to lead our cities, states, and nation have great power to promote justice, peace, and care for the earth. On the other hand, they can use their power to exacerbate injustice, foment conflict and war, and plunder the earth without regard to its wellbeing.
The mid-term election season that we are in is an important one for participating in deciding our future by choosing and electing our future leaders. Voting is a great privilege and a right that comes with being citizens of a democracy. The opportunity to exercise this right comes to us only on certain occasions. One such time is now, and many have indicated that the results of these mid-term elections will be crucial for the continuance of our democracy, in which we, the people, will continue to have a say. Our advocacy efforts for justice, peace, and creation care become ineffective when our democracy falters such that leaders turn a deaf ear to us and only listen to the politically powerful.
I encourage each of us to assess the candidates we will choose from and reflect on how they align with our values and priorities, and I offer the Buttry Center’s priorities of justice, peace, and creation care as some for you to consider. This is not the time to vote according to the political party that you and your family have always voted for. Significant changes have occurred within the political parties during the last few years. It is not the time to vote for someone simply because they say they are a Christian or an evangelical, as these terms have become significantly politicized. The goal for our voting should not be to build a Christian nation that promotes just one brand of Christian religion, but rather to assure the separation of church and state. A theocracy too often degrades into forced religion and repression. The separation of church and state affirms God’s gift of free will and respects every individual’s right to exercise it in matters of faith.
So, during the weeks that are ahead of us, let us do everything we can to elect leaders who will help our cities, states, and nations move in directions that are more just, peaceful, and caring toward creation. We can research the candidates online and go to events where they speak so that we can assess their alignment with our values and priorities. Then we need to help educate others on what we have learned and do what we can to get out the vote, especially of those with similar priorities and values. Probably the most effective means to do this is to simply reach out to our friends, neighbors, and family and encourage them to vote. People tend to pay most attention to those they already know and trust. Talking through with them their thoughts about candidates and making sure they know where and when to vote helps.
Of course, there is much more we can do, such as help a candidate or political party with canvassing, phone calling, writing postcards, and assisting with candidate events. We can put signs in our yard to indicate our preferred candidates. One retired pastor I know is serving as a precinct leader for his district and has arranged many events where people can meet the candidates. We can encourage those we know to make a plan and help them get to the polls, if assistance is needed. This year we are urged to encourage people to vote as early as possible, as a way to be sure their votes are counted and the results are clear and uncontestable. All such activities can be an expression of our faith in action as we work with others to elect leaders who will serve their communities and country with integrity and wisdom and will give their best efforts to bringing about a more just, peaceful, and flourishing earth.
Rev. Ruth Rosell, Ph.D.
Director of the Buttry Center for Peace and Nonviolence
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology Emerita
Central Seminary, Overland Park, KS
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
Photo by Andre Hawkins on Unsplash