Editorial
National Council of Churches summarizes churches’ advice on the election
The National Council of Churches USA recently published a sampling of faith community resources to help people think about the election from various perspectives.
The primary advice is: Get Out and Vote!
Every eligible voter must be given an opportunity to exercise his/her rights for the upcoming Nov. 8 election. The President and Vice President of the United States will be elected. One-third of the U.S. Senate will be elected. The entire U.S. House of Representatives will be elected. Local, county and regional officials will be elected. Court judges will be elected. State and local elected officials, ballot measures and propositions will impact homelessness, wage equity, mass incarceration, transportation, public education, water quality and much more.
“For these reasons and the fact that the Right to Vote is a basic promise in the United States of America, we sound the alert to register to vote and vote,” said African Methodist Episcopal Social Action Commission chair, Bishop Frank Reid, III.
“The AME Church is committed to voter registration, education and mobilization. In the remaining days, we encourage members to be engaged and allow their voices to be heard up and down the ballot!” said Senior Bishop McKinley Young.
The AME invites people to ensure that the voices of the church are not silent by marking the calendar, organizing listening parties and signing up for email, text, website, Facebook and tweet alerts.
The United Church of Christ urges people to be active in the election: “Politics is often taken to be a dirty word, but political processes are simply the way communities organize their common life. For people of faith, public policy is never merely politics. It is a way of living out the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.”
The UCC said local congregations and church structures across the country can develop nonpartisan programs to help the faith community reflect on the political order. Its “Our Faith Our Vote Campaign” is designed to help people discover ways
they, as individuals and congregations, can be involved in the political process.
More than 100 Christian leaders have asked each presidential candidate, “What would you do as president to offer help and opportunity to hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world?”
Videos of their responses, produced by the campaigns, are compiled by the Circle of Protection without comment or endorsement. Church, college and seminary groups may view and discuss the videos.
#EpiscopaliansVote is an access to help Episcopalians live out their call to “care for our neighbors as ourselves by engaging in the public square.” There are many opportunities for Episcopalians to engage in this electoral process. Official Episcopal policy 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 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America offers a “Civic Participation and Voter Education Guide,” believing that the church “is called by Jesus Christ to be a public witness to the love of God poured out for all. Its “The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective” statement affirms the importance of participation of all people in our society, including people of faith. It commits Lutherans to “work with and on behalf of the poor, the powerless, and those who suffer, using this church’s power and influence with political and economic decision-making bodies to develop and advocate policies that seek to advance justice, peace and the care of creation.”
Bread for the World has an “I Vote to End Hunger Campaign,” which sets a goal to work for justice for people who are hungry in our country and around the world. Bread for the World believes that ending hunger by 2030 is a goal within reach, and they urge taking action because “our children, our neighbors — real people — are suffering.” They want candidates to know people will vote to end hunger in presidential and congressional elections.
“Voting is Christian stewardship. Our Christian faith compels us to elect wise leaders who will uphold justice and the common good, especially for people who are poor and needy (Psalm 72:12-14). The Bible underscores the need for good governance and for leaders who govern impartially (Leviticus 19:15; James 2:2-4). Churches, communities and government working together have the power to end hunger,” they said.
A new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) resource aimed at ending voter suppression is available to download. At the direction of the 221st General Assembly in 2014, the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness created a study guide, “We Shall Not Be Moved – Advocacy in the New Age of Voter Suppression.” The document provides individuals, church groups, classes and pastors a resource to explore the history and context of systemic patterns of voter suppression in the U.S. It draws on U.S. history, Presbyterian social witness policies, Scripture and other resources to provide a template for reflection and action, aware that minority groups do not always enjoy full voting rights.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that a coverage formula in the original, historic 1965 Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional because it was outdated. This provision required jurisdictions with a history of voter suppression—those primarily restricting voting rights of African Americans— submit new or proposed voting laws to the federal government for review. By striking down that provision as unconstitutional, the court suspended the Feds’ ability to protect minority voting rights.
The NCC said many evangelicals are asking what to do if they do not like either major party presidential candidate. Some said they would vote for the candidate they dislike the least (60 percent), vote for a third party candidate (28 percent), or not vote for that office (12 percent), according to the June Evangelical Leaders Survey.
Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, said, “My FAQs in 2016 include: ‘Who are you going to vote for?’ (I never tell), ‘Who should I
vote for?’ (I’ll let you decide), and ‘Is it okay if I don’t vote?’ (Probably not. At least vote for as many offices as you choose, but don’t skip the voting booth completely).”
Evangelical leaders see voting as part of their Christian and civic duty. Nicole Baker Fulgham, president of The Expectations Project, a faith-based education advocacy organization, said, “As a woman of color, too many people fought and died for me to have the right to vote. I don’t take it lightly and would be very hard pressed to abdicate that right. Even if I wasn’t super happy with either choice, I’d feel compelled to pick the one I dislike least. I also think, as a Christian, my vote does matter, and it’s part of my responsibility to help decide our leaders.”
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship said that “this election campaign raises some of the most profound spiritual issues in our history. They inform clergy and congregational lay leaders who worry what a tax-exempt group (501c3) can and can’t do, both legally and to preserve comradeship among the members.
“Only actual endorsement or opposition to a specific candidate or party is totally forbidden to a 501c3,” they said.
The group said synagogues, churches and mosques can sponsor “get out to vote” events, urging congregants to register, they can ask people to commit to vote, remind them and offer rides.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States offers the Catholic faithful “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics. It urges Catholics to exercise their rights and duties as participants in a democracy. “We urge our pastors, lay and religious faithful, and all people of good will to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care; to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and to shape political choices in the coming election in light of Catholic teaching.
“The statement lifts up our dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as participants in the civil order,” the bishops said.
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