At SFC we do discussion based worship. We eat, we share, we talk, and we wrestle with big themes. This means that we are vulnerable with one another. At a table of diverse voices we began on Sunday with me sharing my personal, emotional reaction to this Tuesday’s reaction. It may not have been how others’ felt, but it was my truth. The feelings I brought with me that day matter, and others began to share their own reactions and feelings. One person articulated the worry that church was not a place to talk about politics. Another stated that they never talked about politics in their family so as not to bring disagreement, discomfort or strive. Others talked about their distress of how divided our country is right now. We talked about our hope in God, who calls us not to worry, but to strive for the Kingdom of God and the justice of heaven. As we thought about how to do that we realized that church is indeed the place to talk about politics. No we shouldn’t tell people who to vote for, or what to think. Faith communities should be the places where people share their views and worries and are heard. It is okay to disagree with one another and with your pastor. Faith communities should be places where we learn and grow from each other as children of God. It’s a delicate thing, to disagree and to be vulnerable with one another, yet the table of God is the best place to do that work. We know we are held by something much bigger and more powerful than a political belief or a candidate choice.
Together on Sunday we came up with strategies about how to listen to those who we love in ways that empower them to tell their truths with out it turning in to a debate about political figures. We talked about how to channel our anger and our fear. We talked about the hope of striving for the Kingdom of God and how to turn our energy from self-satisfying, but ultimately futile worrying into living for God.
Transformation is not easy, and yet we are a people who believe in a God who brings about the transformation of all through resurrection. We believe in a God who calls us to be more than blue or red or green or whatever color libertarian is on the map. Here at SFC we are committed to walking with one another, in our unity and in our disagreements. We are also committed to living in to our vision for God’s kingdom by supporting local nonprofits, reaching out to refugee families, and showing up for those on the margins. We know the road won’t be easy, but we know we are not alone.
-Eilidh
The Oval Office replicated at the Carter Library
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