My Dear Good Samaritans,

Over the last couple days I have read and heard many reactions to Tuesday’s election. I have had my own range of emotions as well. Rightfully many are grieving, shocked, hurt, and afraid. We have watched our country use LGBTQIA+ rights and persons, women, people of color, and immigrants as political pawns to advance an agenda. At the same time many are joyful. This election has brought forth a strong and wide spectrum of emotions.

A common thread in many of the responses I have heard from church leaders, including our Bishop and our Presiding Bishop, is that we must respect the dignity of those who voted differently from us. Others have called people to unity, to support one another, and the new administration.

If I am being completely truthful, we need to be careful that a call for unity is not taken as encouragement to put aside real and significant principles. We are absolutely called, and promise in our baptismal vows, that we will respect the dignity of every human person. That is a central tenet of our faith as Episcopalian Christians. Personhood, identity, human rights, and fundamental existence are part of that inherent human dignity. Those who have borne the brunt of hateful speech and actions cannot simply ignore efforts to restrain and erase them. And, neither should we. We cannot let cries for unity become cries for tolerance or acceptance of diminishing the dignity of any human beings. And this is as true when it is a Democrat in office as it is for a Republican. The church’s mission doesn’t change with the whims of politics. Jesus makes it clear that while we may be citizens of an earthly empire, our worship and allegiance belongs ultimately to God alone. We don’t worship politics or political leaders. We worship the God who is the Creator of All and strive to live into the example of Jesus.

Our call in following Jesus is the same today as it always has been. And, it will be the same tomorrow, and all the days after that. It has been the same call for more than two millennia: we are to love our God and our neighbor. More specifically, Jesus teaches us that we are to feed the hungry, give refreshment to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the prisoner, bring good news to the poor, release the captives, and set free the oppressed (Matthew 25:35-36 and Luke 4:18-19). This mission never ceases, no matter which party is in office.

These are uncertain times filled with deep division and animosity, but the church was born in times such as these. The Jesus movement was formed in the crucible of the corrupt and abusive Roman empire. Jesus sought to give dignity and respect and love to those whom society did not care, who they viewed as less than. And so we will do what we always do. We will continue to be the church that God calls us to be. We will root out hatred in all its forms and name it and identify it. We will defend those who are being persecuted. We will uphold each and every person’s existence. We will love those whom society doesn’t or has forgotten about. We will welcome and affirm the dignity of all people and proclaim always that men, women, non-binary, adults and children, are created in the image of God, are members of the body of Christ, invited into every level of ministry in our church, and have a place at the table. In other words, we declare, and will continue to declare, that every single person, exactly as they are, is a beloved child of God and, just like each one of us, is loved beyond measure.

Whatever you may be feeling in the days and weeks ahead, know that you are not alone. There are others that feel like you. If you are afraid for yourself or someone you love, you are not alone. There are others that feel like you. If you are anxious or unsure or even if you don’t feel anything at all, you are not alone. There are many others that feel just like you. If you are feeling relief or hope, you are not alone. There are many others that feel just like you.

I want you all to know that I am here to talk, sit with you, pray, and listen.

You are loved beyond measure, my friends.

Peace,

The Rev. Chris McPeak
Rector