Disciple: The Realities of Politics

Whether realized or not, every person is a participant in the political process

By Martha B. Alexander

“But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.’”

- Matthew 22:34-40

Growing up in families where faith was present both at home and in a church community, many people learned this passage very early. It seemed logical that God would be designated first. After all, for believers, God created heaven and earth and all within, including human beings. The second part about loving your neighbor was easy if you were in a community where you had friendly people living next door or down the road; people who knew you and your family, who went to the same schools or shopped in the same area. Neighborhoods were, in a way, an oasis. Today, however, even though one might live in a certain area, with growing business enterprises, restaurants, sports activities and other entities in areas outside the oasis, people may walk, drive, bike or take public transportation to work, worship and play. Our neighbors are no longer just next door or down the street or country road. Our neighbors are people everywhere.

[Image: Martha teaching “Realities of Politics” via Zoom. Photo courtesy of Martha Alexander]

At the moment, the world is in constant turmoil. Every day we are faced with events that challenge who we are as human beings, including wars, mass and school shootings, environmental warnings, a lack of food and shelter for many, racism and distrust of our democracy.

Looming on the horizon is the upcoming presidential election as well as other elections on the federal, state and local levels. One cannot avoid politics if they turn on the television or radio, read newspapers or browse social media. The reality of politics are before us each and every day, regardless of whether we choose to listen or read or even think we are part of it.

But we are a part of it. Every one of us. How we enact our part is up to each and every one of us. As part of a faith community, no matter the religion, those of us living within our democratic way of governing need to take up the mantle of educating ourselves, our families, friends and those with whom we have contact, to embrace the ways in which public policy is a mainstay of our freedom and commitment to our neighbor.

REALITY OF FOUNDATIONS

“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as a sun beam in the whole volume by human nature, by the hand of divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.”

- Alexander Hamilton

One of the first items with which every citizen should be familiar is the United States Constitution. This instrument is the backbone of our democracy. Within this important document are numerous articles that speak about how to live within a just society and not one where a dictator is in charge. Besides indicating how we elect a president and members of Congress and decide other governance issues, there are many other resolves that are basic to living our lives together. Many of these are found in the amendments section of the United States Constitution, the first 10 of which are referred to as the Bill of Rights. Amendments I and II are well known.

Amendment I makes clear there is not a specific religion to which citizens must adhere. There is a division between church and state, which many people see as a reason that politics are not to be discussed, particularly within their faith community. It also states there shall be freedom of speech as well as the press, and peaceful protests may take place.

The premise of Amendment II is to keep and bear arms. It has been at the center of much debate about what that means. When written, it was specifically part of ensuring protection of the public. Today, there are arguments on what this means when it comes to the rights of individuals.

Other major amendments prohibit slavery and ensure the voting rights of citizens who are 18 years or older. They may vote regardless of race, color, sex or failure to pay taxes.

These and other documents, including state constitutions as well as local rules and regulations, further dictate what those in government must uphold in their lines of duty. Our votes give us voice as to whom is entrusted with those duties.

So why is there not more activity and participation in our democracy?

REALITY OF ACTION

“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination & obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field—and finally that he would most graciously be pleas’d to dispose us all to do Justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves, with that Charity, humility & pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion & without an humble immitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”

- George Washington, Address to the States, June 8, 1783

What is the reality of politics? We are a part of it, whether we like it or not. Our government has two main components of people working for us: elected or appointed officials, and those in the bureaucracy. The bureaucrats are significant because they are usually the ones who we deal with in government. Both, however, are important to maintaining and regulating the policies, projects, budgets and other matters coming before the government entities.

There does not seem to be a lot of concern about those working for government unless they are an elected or appointed official. Those seeking election might have one main issue of concern or think there needs to be major change. Some might feel a call to use their skills and knowledge to ensure the best possible care for the public. Some might want power and use their position to their advantage. This is where YOU come in.

YOU can make a difference! The reality is those in elected positions depend on you for your ideas, your money for their campaigns and your vote.

YOUR ideas matter. Policies and laws are implemented through many channels. You might see the need to revise a policy or law. You might recognize the need to implement a new project or program to deal with a specific issue. Sharing ideas with lawmakers can ignite positive results, for while it usually takes a majority to implement them, one person can initiate the conversation.

YOU might not like the idea of the cost of campaigns, which are very expensive at most levels of government. But that is how a candidate is able to message their concerns and beliefs across all types of media.

Negative campaigning is a problem. It behooves us to be sensitive listeners to both sides of an issue, even if you already have a strong opinion. Looking at the other side of a debate or issue can enrich your thinking, whether it strengthens your point of view, defines for you why you hold it, provides you with greater objectivity about an issue or understanding of why another person thinks as they do, or even leads to new – and sometimes better - ideas.

Objectivity is lost when one is not willing to see another’s side. We don’t have to agree, but learning to disagree agreeably is considerate of another’s outlook. Civility goes back to being considerate of our neighbor. And we know we can do it. Not everyone who walks through the doors of a church to worship agrees on every issue, but they go in together to pray, sing and worship one God. People are not formed alike, and we can think and pursue our interests and beliefs, differing from others. Keeping our opinions to ourselves or discussing our ideas only with those who agree is not enough. We must embrace diversity of thought and the chance to deepen our thinking.

We live in a democracy where we are blessed to have the opportunity to vote and make our opinions and ideas known to those in authority. There are many actions we can take to fulfill the reality that we are part of the political process and have influence, and those actions are based on our time, talent and treasure.

During the year, we can give our time in short- and long-term time commitments to help faith-based or government-run agencies in our communities. At election time, there is a need for campaign and election voting site volunteers.

Our talent may be put to use when we reach out to those in an elected office or working in areas of specialty and ask where we can be most helpful and effective. There are political organizations, both partisan and non-partisan, where we can be a member and aid in programming, education and forming relationships with others as well as continuing our learning about our democracy.

When it comes to politics, candidates need funding for their campaigns. Every penny counts and all contributions are very acceptable and welcomed.

Once you check off your time, talent and treasure list, there is one item left that is most important: voting. North Carolina gives you multiple ways to do it, including early voting, absentee ballots, mail-in ballots and in-person voting.

Many have a tough time realizing their vote does count and can have influence. Your vote, when added to others, can mean the difference in any election. When we register to vote, it is just the beginning of our commitment to democracy. It is an obligation where we need to be alert to the needs and issues of the communities in which we live, and educated about how those running for office will respond to them.

How do we do that? Attend town hall meetings and other events; assess the news media across different, trustworthy sources; read what the candidates themselves offer on their websites; and talk to friends and family to see what they might know about the candidates and issues. It is easy to focus on the top of the ticket, such as the President of the United States, but those representing us on the state and local levels are influencing us just as much and are closer to the issues that most affect us. We need to be voters and advocates.

REALITY ROOTED IN FAITH

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

- Ephesians 2:10

According to research from the Pew Research Center, there have been 11 United States presidents who were Episcopalians, including George Washington, one of our founding fathers and the first to hold the office. Countless others have held office at every level of government.

We, too, are called not to be bystanders, but to engage in our democracy with our time, talent, treasure and votes, and to do so while remaining rooted in our faith. The realities of politics are complex to some and easy for others, but the bottom line is we all need to answer the call to play our part, and we can do so in a way that ensures we serve and love our neighbors near and far. For when we do, we worship God and work to build beloved community. That is also reality.

Martha B. Alexander is a member of Christ Church, Charlotte, and well-known diocesan leader. She served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 through 2012 and is now a part-time lecturer at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, where she teaches “Realities of Politics.” Contact her via the communications department.

VOTING RESOURCES AVAILABLE

This year is an election year, which means there will be a great deal of information shared over the next several months about voting, the importance of voting and the call to help others exercise their right to vote.

The Diocese of North Carolina has created a landing page to help you navigate the conversations, including key dates, what you need to know about the North Carolina voter ID law, the role churches can play in getting out the vote, and resources for you to use and share.

The page will be updated as the year progresses, so we invite you to visit episdionc.org/voting.

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