A Post-election Message from the Bishops
Beloved siblings in the Diocese of North Carolina,
As with any election, some of us today may feel relieved and some of us may be grieving. We know that our nation is deeply divided on many issues. As disciples and followers of Jesus, we all have a crucial role to play in the healing of our nation. There are many shared values that remain clear and will serve us well in the weeks and months ahead.
First, our hope is in God, not in any political leader or political party. Second, when a nation is as divided as ours is right now, the need for prayer for one another is paramount. Third, compassion for those who are vulnerable means that “winners” need to turn their hearts and attention to those who are disappointed, dismayed and even disillusioned or frightened by the election results.
Jesus models, again and again, that even when we disagree, showing our love to and for another person is the foundation of what it means to respect the dignity of every human being. We need only to read our baptismal covenant to remind ourselves of our pledge to do that.
We hold fast to the core value that every person is a beloved child of God, no matter what their political persuasion, their party loyalty, who they voted for, or their deeply held political ideology or identity. We are each made in God’s image, and we all belong to one another. Therefore, in our interactions with others, let our focus be on the person before us, not on the label or larger collective or affiliation with which they may be associated.
As Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe stated today, “We are Christians who support the dignity, safety and equality of women and LGBTQ+ people as an expression of our faith. We also pray that President Donald Trump and his administration will do the same.”
With him, we urge President Trump and members of Congress to exercise compassion toward the immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees we serve and to know that, at every turn, we will stand for the dignity and human rights of all of God’s people.
Our mission, as the church, remains unchanged. We are here to build beloved community, to build up one another in love, to speak out against hateful and violent rhetoric and action, to stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable, especially those who are being targeted or dehumanized by careless and hateful words or actions. In the end, the mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
Today, and in the days ahead, let us continue to bear witness to the promise of Jesus: that we are each made in God’s image, and that we do all belong to one another.
Faithfully,
Bishop Sam Rodman
Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson
