Voting

Dear Friends in Christ,

Next week is the first election since I became a US citizen last year. I will get to vote for the first time since I arrived in the US 35 years ago. It’s not the “BIG” election that will happen in November, but even so I am looking forward to finally exercising my civic rights and responsibilities. No longer will I see everyone sporting their “I Voted” sticker on Facebook and feel like I am not doing my bit. I finally get a say in what happens in the country I have lived in for more than half my life.

I imagine you may not feel the same sense of excitement and wonder that I do at this privilege. Even so, I hope you are all going to take the opportunity to vote too. And no, this is not a case of “politics from the pulpit.” “Separation of church and state” does not mean that Christians shouldn’t vote, and it doesn’t mean that I can’t encourage you to exercise your own civil rights and vote. It does mean that I can’t tell you who to vote for. Or which candidates are acceptable, and which are not. But I can and will encourage you to vote carefully and with prayerful consideration, using your faith to guide you.

Voting is a way to put our faith into action, to vote for the people and polices that support the message of love and inclusion Jesus came to demonstrate. Our own Episcopal Church has an Office of Government Relations, which,

“represents the policy priorities of The Episcopal Church to the U.S. government in Washington, D.C. and helps to shape the discussion of political issues throughout the Church. OGR aims to influence policy and legislation on critical issues, highlighting the voices and experiences of Episcopalians and Anglicans globally. All policy positions are based on General Convention and Executive Council resolutions.”

Its policy areas include creation care, racial reconciliation, ending poverty, migration, refuges and immigration, and human rights and peacebuilding. Its mission is to educate, equip and engage. Its priorities are founded on biblical teaching as well as the tenets of our baptismal covenant. You can learn more here.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Jane+