Disciple: In the Public Square

The role of Episcopalians in an election cycle

By Lacy Broemel

 When you hear the words “election season,” what comes to mind?

For some, election season may cause dread or annoyance. Endless political commercials and inescapable media commentary tend to come to mind for me. Some people feel an election is completely irrelevant to their daily lives while others grapple with the threat of disenfranchisement as voting rights laws are stripped away.

But what else could come to mind? How about opportunity? What if an election were seen as an invitation to be at the table and to have your voice heard? This invitation to participate in our democracy is an incredible, even sacred, invitation if we are prepared to accept it as such.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to engage in the public square just as Jesus did. We are called to bring love, compassion and civility into the way we interact with others. We are called to be and speak out with the oppressed, the hungry and the outcast, and, just as importantly, we are called to insert the values of compassion and justice into the systems and structures that guide our society. Every day until November 8, we have a unique opportunity to do the holy work of building the Kingdom of God here on earth. By participating in the electoral process, we have a chance to live our lives the way Jesus did and come closer to God through service to our nation and our neighbors.

CHURCH AND STATE

In this election, Episcopalians have an opportunity to exercise the faithful practices of advocacy and civic engagement. We can cast our vote for the candidate who will create and promote policies that respect the dignity of all people. We can call upon candidates and elected officials to speak with civility. We can model civil speech and respectful listening in our homes and our communities, and we can work to ensure all people have access to participate in our democracy. In this election in particular, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls on Episcopalians to participate in the public square by “loving and caring and serving in the way we see Jesus doing it in the New Testament. That is a counter-narrative to a narrative of narrowness, bigotry and polarization.”

Official Episcopal policy passed by our General Convention and Executive Council recognizes voting and political participation as acts of Christian stewardship, calling upon congregations to engage in conversation on public policy issues, to develop voter registration and issue-education campaigns, and to advocate for protection of voting rights. The Episcopal Public Policy Network has resources and tools for you and your congregation to use to engage in the electoral process, with a special focus on what churches can and cannot do in the election season and guidance on things like nonpartisan involvement, action timelines, suggested activities and more.

How will you participate in the electoral process to better our democracy, and serve your neighbor and yourself? By speaking out for voting rights, engaging in civil discourse and casting a ballot, you have a sacred opportunity to serve the whole body of Christ. And if we reflect on one of the foundations of our faith, loving your neighbor as yourself, it is clear that our voices and our votes count. A vote for a candidate or a ballot initiative grounded in love and compassion can impact the hungry student in our community school, the health and wholeness of our Earth, and the immigrants and refugees that seek safety and opportunity in our nation.

Will you accept the sacred invitation to build a just and peaceful society by participating in this election season?

LEARN MORE

Download the Election Engagement Toolkit from the Episcopal Public Policy Network.

Lacy Broemel is the Refugee and Immigration Policy Analyst for The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations, following her tenure as the office’s Manager for Communications and Operations.