Choose Life

November 2017

Over the year-and-a-half that I’ve been with you, I’ve been constantly reminded of the commonalities and similarities between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Presbyterian Church (USA) that allow for our pastors to serve one another’s churches. Of the many things I could share to demonstrate that, in this column I want to highlight some of the questions that would-be pastors in each denomination have to answer in order to be ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament. In your history, you’ve probably heard a seminary graduate answer:

Will you … lead God’s people by your own example in faithful service and holy living?

Will you give faithful witness in the world, that God's love may be known in all that you do?

In my case, nearly 25 years ago, I answered nine questions, including

Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?

Will you in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?

I offer this to show that our two denominations share a commitment to justice, a commitment common to a multitude of faith communities. And it is out of this common commitment, in this country that is currently so divided, that I joined 56 other religious leaders in the area in signing the Interfaith Statement Against Bigotry and Division found below. (I can provide a list of all signatories upon request).

I’ve heard the stories of Protestants and Catholics crossing the street to avoid the other’s church. I’ve seen the photos of African-Americans discriminated against in the 1950s and ‘60s, and watched the videos of more-than-questionable shootings in 2016. I’ve known the prejudice that has long been buried just below the surface, and I’ve witnessed it crawling back into American society.

I know the Jesus who died because of such attitudes. And I know the vow I took in his name to speak and stand against such things. The call on each of us to choose life, and not death.

After signing this and sharing it with the Council, it is only appropriate to share it with you. I hope that we can walk together toward the light, not just for ourselves, but for the world God so loves.

God is all in all,

An Interfaith Statement Against Bigotry and Division

As interfaith leaders in the Lehigh Valley, we are aware of a climate of tension and anxiety in our

community and nation. We lift our voices together, as people of faith, to remind our brothers and

sisters that we are all Americans united not only by the concord of our national polity but also by the

call to build the “Beloved Community.”

As faith leaders we commit to overcoming hatred and discrimination in our communities, schools, and

places of worship. We are deeply troubled by actions and language that vilify persons based upon their

race, nationality, faith, gender, or sexual orientation; we reject the targeting of particular groups in our

society, and the promotion of hatred and fear. We unapologetically witness against bigotry and

bullying that targets individuals because of their identity or faith expression. We acknowledge that

there is a global state of division and discord, fueled by intolerance and xenophobia. As people of faith

we challenge this dynamic and express our witness against it.

Our faith traditions—Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu—call us to love our neighbor,

reconcile with our enemies, and strive for the inclusion of all in our communities, especially the most

vulnerable. We share with all Americans the responsibility for creating a society where our differences

are respected, where dialogue on critical community concerns is the norm, and where collective

action for the common good transcends our narrow agendas. We yearn for a time when all people

can live and work in mutual respect, while advancing the well-being of our communities and nation.

Our role as leaders is to proclaim by what we say and what we do that God is a God of love, and that

we are people of love—for all of God's children. To further our witness, we therefore encourage

people throughout the Lehigh Valley to join with us and commit specifically:

• To act respectfully toward others, including those representing other faiths and

ideological perspectives.

• To refrain from personal attacks on individuals or groups while maintaining the right to

disagree vigorously.

• To set an example for our youth in finding ways to settle disputes peacefully and in

refraining from acts of bigotry and bullying.

We also call upon members of our faith communities to participate responsibly, respectfully, and

faithfully in community building. We urge listening to diverse voices, dialoging with people across faith

and racial boundaries, and creating opportunities to break down walls of division, while creating

bridges of hope within our community.