Welcoming God's Kingdom, In Worship & In the Voting Booth
Dear Family in Christ,
When we gather as the body of Christ together in worship, we pray the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer that Jesus taught his disciples echoes through the generations to us now, and we add our voices to the great cloud of witnesses as we pray: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) The sure and certain hope of this prayer is that God is at work in the world to bring it into alignment with God’s reign.
As we pray this prayer, we also trust that God’s Spirit is moving in our own hearts, helping us to live a life committed to bringing God’s kingdom into focus here on earth by caring for God’s people and God’s creation to the best of our ability.
As a society, we are in a season of great tension. We are not of the same mind on how our communities, institutions, or even our congregations are to align with God’s will on earth. In recent decades, our electoral processes and civic life have become increasingly divisive—often focusing on name-calling and blaming rather than centering on authentic debate about the best way to care for the well-being of all.
As Christians, we are called to demonstrate through relationships with our friends, families, and neighbors that the kingdom of God draws near and is planted here on earth as it is in heaven. That is why I am writing to you as we approach yet another divisive election time. Our faith has prepared us to engage and participate in our civic life together, for we bring our same values we hold in worship to the voting booth. While we may not agree on the detailed paths to welcome in God’s kingdom here on earth, we believe and trust that we are one body in Jesus Christ with many members—seeking to learn and understand from one another’s experiences, hopes, and dreams.
Our most recent ELCA Social Statement on Faith and Civic Life states, “The most radical feature of the Constitution is its first three words: ‘we the people.’” When we, the people of God, turn our hearts toward both God’s kingdom and care for our neighbors as citizens together, we come closer to glimpsing that kingdom here on earth.
We seek to understand others in their differing opinions, where media and social media deal only in soundbites.
We offer words of grace when the political discourse deals in “gotcha” moments.
We enter the polling booth attentive to the needs and experiences of our neighbors near and far.
We work to ensure that all citizens can use their voice and cast their vote.
We remember that those who are running our elections, and those running for public office, are our neighbors. They are beloved in God’s sight, deserving of respect and grace.
Our faith assures us that God’s kingdom is with us now and into the future. May you be encouraged in your civic engagement over these coming weeks and beyond, praying fervently, voting faithfully, and proclaiming God’s peace all along the way. And may you be encouraged in the ways you welcome in God’s kingdom and will for this world: loving God and loving one another as Jesus loves us.
In Christ,
Bishop Melissa L. Stoller