Four Ways Church Leaders Can Make a Difference This Election

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking to hundreds of pastors and denominational leaders at the Sent Summit, a  gathering of the National Coalition of Latino Evangelicals (NALEC). 

I'm grateful to Gabe Salguero (pictured here with his son and me) for his invitation and partnership in our shared commitment to social justice.

With so much at stake in the midterm elections, I believe church leaders have an important role to play. The policies of this administration that harm vulnerable people, including cuts to nutrition assistance and health care and brutal immigration policies, are not consistent with Christian values.

I talked about four ways pastors can influence elections:

1. Discuss the values and beliefs at stake in these midterm elections.

2. Encourage Christians to vote.

3. Encourage people to be active in the elections and generous with their time and resources

4. Provide opportunities for civil discussion between conservative and progressive people..

People of faith have an important role to play in this election. We need to reclaim a Christianity that reflects the values of a loving and forgiving God—and a politics that reflects a generous and caring nation. NALEC recently released With Love: A Christian Guide to Faithful Voting, and I encourage you to read it. It asks three powerful questions: 

1. Does this candidate demonstrate love of neighbor?” 

2. Does this candidate show trustworthy character?

3. Will this candidate use power responsibly?” 

These questions call us to consider how our votes will affect our neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable.

 Great questions to think about when you vote.

Protecting this Year’s Elections

The election next month is different from any election we’ve experienced because we already know that the President, his administration, and his allies will try to sway the election in their favor.  

President Trump has already tried various schemes to change election rules in his favor. The courts have blocked nearly all of them. But Supreme Court decisions have eliminated Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. That will reduce the voting power of African Americans and the number of African American members of Congress. Also, the gerrymandering war that the President provoked will likely shift some House seats from Democratic to Republican control. 

Perhaps even more importantly, the President has succeeded in convincing many Americans that fraud and cheating are widespread in our voting system. That sets the stage for interference at some polling places and in the post-election certification processes. It is not impossible that Speaker Johnson will refuse to seat some newly elected Democrats or that the president will, at some point, declare martial law.  

What can we do?  

First, we should pay attention to what is happening at the polls. The Justice Department plans to send 1,000 federal agents to polling places. ICE may arrest people outside polling places. If you have trouble voting or see something wrong, call  866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a nonpartisan Election Protection hotline

Second, we can join and support democracy protection organizations. You can find an array of democracy protection organizations on the web. People at my local church have organized a Democracy Circle. Two church members lead it. Weekly newsletters from them and monthly meetings have helped me stay informed and engaged in things I can do locally to defend immigrants and protect democracy. Hundreds of democracy circles have sprung up across the country.

Protect Democracy is a good on-line source of information about what’s happening and ways we can respond. It is nonpartisan and cross-ideological. 

Democracy Defenders Action and Democracy Defenders Fund defend democracy in the courts and share information about what they are doing. Democracy Defenders Action is a 501-c4. Democracy Defenders Fund is a 501-c3.  I plan to make a contribution to the c4. Contributions to the Democracy Fund are tax-deductible. Both of these organizations are allied with the Democratic Party.  

A third way to protect democracy in these crucial months is to speak out against anti-democratic behavior during the elections and election certification process.   

Indivisible has been the lead organization behind the No Kings rallies. The first rally was composed of local rallies across the country, which together amounted to the biggest demonstration in U.S. history. There is likely to be a No Kings rally after the election, and I plan to participate.  

We can encourage our churches to speak up. Based on experience in other countries that have struggled with authoritarianism, nonpartisan and conservative institutions have a critical role to play. Sean Rowe, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said this about the role of churches now, “Churches like ours, protected by the First Amendment and practiced in galvanizing people, may be the last institutions capable of resisting this administration’s overreach and recklessness.” 

Finally, we can pray.  Prayer helps to align our thinking and action with God’s purposes. It grounds our activism in God’s promises. 

Public prayer in this time of need could be especially powerful. I hope that many churches will pray for God’s blessing and guidance for our nation between now and January 3 when newly elected members of Congress are supposed to be sworn in. Some churches might decide to pray for the nation every Sunday.  

Conservative- and liberal-leaning churches can both pray that God will bless and guide our nation. If there is conflict and controversy in the election certification process, a wide array of churches might help lead the nation in prayer for an honest and peaceful conclusion to this  election.  

A Pilgrimage to Share Urgent Lessons from Poverty Abolitionists

Book signing at the Fall Leadership Institute of the National Head Start Association (photo courtesy of NHSA).

Bringing Poverty Abolitionists to Head Start

Yesterday I shared lessons from Poverty Abolitionists at the Fall Leadership Institute of the National Head Start Association (NHSA). Hundreds of Head Start teachers, aides, parents, and alumni are in Washington for training and advocacy visits to their members of Congress. 

Head Start is an excellent program. It provides quality preschool and services to low-income children. Research has demonstrated that Head Start kids are more successful in school and life. The families of Head Start kids also benefit. For example, when Head Start helps a mother connect to a doctor and dentist for one of her children, the mom typically signs up the rest of the family too.  

Bob Bissen, the senior director of government relations at NHSA, has become a friend.  All the people I met at the Leadership Institute were committed and enthusiastic poverty abolitionists. Quite a few folks bought copies of Poverty Abolitionists.

Immanuel Church-on the Hill, Alexandria, Virginia

On Sunday I met with the adult forum at the parish church associated with Virginia Theological Seminary.  Immanuel has strong programs of outreach, social justice, and creation care. The people who came to the forum expressed appreciation for what they learned. Some members of their social justice committee plan to connect with the Democracy Circle that meets at Christ Church in Alexandria.

Speaking on "The Urgency of Now" in Maine

In mid-September, my wife and I traveled to Portland, Maine, where I delivered an address, “The Urgency of Now,” at St. Luke's Cathedral . The senior warden, John Hennessey, and our friend Beth Franklin organized this opportunity, and the cathedral's new dean ,Carole Piland Morehead opened the event.

I spoke about the reversal of decades of progress against poverty, what it will take to restore that progress, and what people of faith can do now. Several people told me they would write checks to candidates in close races as a result of my talk. 

I’m sure that President Trump, his administration, and allies across the country will try to interfere in the election certification processes that need to take place between November 3 and January 3, when the new Congress will be sworn in.  I shared my concerns, sources for ongoing information, and ideas about how we can help protect the election results.

As a bonus on this trip, Janet and I enjoyed seeing Beth Franklin and her husband Mike.  A highlight was hiking up a mountain together.