I suspect that by now, many of you have watched Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon from the Service of Prayer for the Nation on January 21st at the National Cathedral, or at least have read the transcript. President Trump, Vice President Vance, and their families were in attendance, and Bishop Budde’s sermon included a scripturally rooted plea to them, partially quoted here:
“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now… I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people in this nation and the world. Amen.”
Among the many and varied reactions from people across the political spectrum (which you can look up on your favorite news and social media), one theme has recurred: it was too political of a statement. There’s not room for this kind of politics in the church. It’s not the church’s job to say things like this.
And let me say in response to these responses, from the very bottom of my heart: NO. Absolutely not. The mission of the church is to pray and worship, proclaim the Gospel, and promote justice, peace, and love (BCP Catechism, p. 855). And like it or not, living out the Gospel is a political experience.
Oh, partisan politics has no place in the church. I absolutely agree with that. But actions of justice and injustice, compassion and mercy, and the treatment of the powerless by the powerful are very much the business of church, and if they’re not, what even are we? A social club that sings hollow hymns and prays without understanding? No, a comfortable silence is not what the church is called to in a time when so many of our siblings near and far live in trouble and turmoil. Or even an uncomfortable silence which disapproves and thinks maybe things should be different, but doesn’t speak out. And that remains true regardless of which party holds more power in Washington or Lansing.
This is a time for the church to take courage. I don’t suppose most of us will ever have a microphone and pulpit to address national leaders, but we do all have voices to use in our own sphere. And we have the Gospel message to guide us. Jesus assured the disciples that the Holy Spirit would give them the words they need when they’re called to speak to powers and authorities (Luke 12:12). I suspect it’s not quite as easy as Jesus makes it sound. (Okay, I KNOW it’s not as easy as Jesus makes it sound.) But we have been given what we need: hearts to care and minds to learn what Jesus would have us say.