Called to be
involved in the
political process
By Rev. Mark S. Hanson -
Presiding
Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
"People of faith must step
boldly into the public square and exert their individual and collective
political power for the sake of the common good. This is not a choice, but a
moral imperative based on Scripture, faith traditions and God's call to
lived out faith in the public world…..
We, therefore, have a moral
obligation to engage in the election process of 2004.
The church must work to increase
the number of people grounded in religious faith who are committed to
responsible political participation….
As citizens of the United
States, we have both the right and responsibility to be involved in the
political process. As people of God, we have been freed to love our
neighbor, seek peace and justice, are care for God's creation. Faith should
inform not only our participation but how we look at public issues and
interpret what is happening in political life….
This is a huge undertaking when
people who belong to a denomination as large as ours uphold vastly different
political persuasions. But we engage people where they are, and we enlist
the foundational theology of Martin Luther, who taught the necessity of
addressing and speaking truth to government through political participation,
resistance and advocacy….
It is a critical time to
activate the political voice and participation of the faith community. This
is not a time for people of faith to keep their faith private, but rather to
step boldly into the public and political square as political activists with
a message of love, peace, justice, caring and hope."
Excerpts from Bishop Hanson's
address in the Pennsylvania Patriot News, March 28, 2004
Resources
Organizing from faith perspectives:
www.faithfuldemocracy.org - The ELCA enthusiastically endorses Faithful
Democracy as a nonpartisan, interfaith way to encourage all people of faith
to reinvigorate their participation in the democratic process around the
2004 election.
www.calltorenewal.org
- Government budgets are moral documents that reflect our values and
priorities. One of the more central biblical imperatives compels us to
uplift those living in poverty as a primary religious and political issues.
Twin Cities begins Rolling to Overcome Poverty Call to Renewal Bus Tour -
October 17, 2004
www.ncccusa.org -
National Council of Churches Mobilization to Overcome Poverty and the Center
for Community Change "Let Justice Roll"
mobilization in the Twin Cities July 23, 2004
www.pcusa.org -
Theological perspective, current issues, study guides, election guidelines
for congregations, candidate forums suggestions and voter registration
information.
www.uua.org - Call to
action, civic participation, voter registration and mobilization.
www.ucc.org - Civic
involvement and election resources.
There are many ways to
activate your political voice and participate:
www.Mobilize.org -
Mobilizing America's Youth - March Across America
www.striveforfive.com
- Take the challenge of bringing 5 new voters to the polls in '04.
Non-Partisan Electoral Sites
on the Internet:
www.webwhiteblue.org
- Online public service campaign to provide information on elections.
www.politics1.com -
Public service site to inform the American electorate about candidates.
www.vote-smart.org -
National library of information on political candidates and elected
officials.
www.dnet.org - League of
Women Voters Education Fund and the Center for Governmental Studies.
