POLITICS IN THE PULPIT

Lutheran, The, Oct 2004 by Sevig, Julie B

If Kathleen and Peter Braafladt wanted to protest the movement of nuclear waste by sitting on railroad tracks during the week, parishioner Stewart DaIl wouldn't much care. But come Sunday, his pastors better say something about Jesus when they step into the pulpit of Messiah Lutheran Church, Vancouver, Wash.

Dall is one of more than 50 readers who responded to The Lutheran's call asking how pastors handle politics from the pulpit. (See page 24.)

"What I want to learn is not their stand on current issues, but how the teachings of Jesus can best be exemplified in life's daily challenges," he says.

Most who responded agreed, calling any attempt to endorse from the pulpit a candidate or a position unethical, unwise, inappropriate and even a misuse of power.

"Pastors should stay out of politics-just as politicians should stay out of religion," says Marian Nicely, a member of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ligonier, Pa. "Pastors have no more knowledge about who is best to run the country and/or any other subject related to politics than their parishioners. The only thing pastors do when they start preaching on the subject is to insert their personal agenda. And that isn't why I go to church."

Some say: Preach it!

But some worshipers don't mind a political comment-particularly if they agree with the position or cause.

Joseph Zwack, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Roseville, Minn., says he finds it refreshing if the pastor offers aspects of current political affairs, "such as the war in Iraq [and] the failure of government to do anything about the problems in Darfur (Sudan)."

Gwen Hansen, a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Forest Lake, Minn., was frustrated when her pastor didn't go far enough in his preaching. "I thought there would be a reference to our need to extend care and concern to homosexuals ... the sermon would have been even greater with this stated concern."

Myrna Nelson joined Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul, Minn., because her pastor speaks to the issues. What dismays Nelson are pastors and leaders "who claim to be the only 'moral voice' of the country."

Joe Johnson, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Taylors Falls, Minn., has a similar concern "about a disconnect that our more evangelical Christian brothers and sisters seem to have between their politics and what Jesus taught, especially about loving our neighbors and taking care of those who are hurting or in need. I read much of the rhetoric of the 'Christian Right' to say, 'I have mine-screw you!' And that's not at all what I hear my Jesus teaching me."

Both Johnson and Michael Lau, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, are sympathetic to the difficult position of pastors. Says Johnson: "We lay people are very politically sensitive and can, and do, make life difficult for pastors who speak out on issues that we disagree with." But Lau says: "I fear that excessive avoidance of controversial issues is not only unbiblical, it interferes with our ability to recognize injustice, especially when we are the perpetrators."

Jackie Ladd, Fontanelle, Neb., says her family left their ELCA congregation because her pastor never preached about issues of the day: "Abortion, homosexuality, racism, sex before marriage, etc. When the Bible, not just the Gospels, is being preached ... we will come back."

Julie Petri says her pastors at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hartland, Wis., do a good job of navigating the political minefield, and it's important to stay balanced and respect differing views. "To cloak God's love and message in political leanings is truly missing the point" and would alienate those with the opposite view, she says, adding, "But to ignore current events would be crazy-as if current events and God are separate?"

As an ELCA chaplain for Veterans Affairs in St. Cloud, Minn., Linda Campbell has to be careful about expressing views, even making sure her vehicle doesn't display a political bumper sticker. But she encourages "all those in the church to engage in serious discernment about the nature of their choices and actions, using not only the good of their own lives and futures, but the good of those less fortunate and more distant, as measures by which to make their choices. At best our theologies will inform us and our decisions. At worst, we will form our theologies to fit our own interests."

Peace, justice OK

Most respondents believe they need to preach and hear about justice. The lectionary, they say, leads them there.

"If we're talking about the gospel, we'll also be talking about justice, compassion and love of God and neighbor-these inform our political choices, actions and life choices," says Linda Covey, Zion Lutheran Church, Tinley Park, Ill.

One reader says it took him 50 years to make the connection between Jesus and social justice because the preacher didn't connect the effect public policy has on "the least of these": "The failure of pastors to preach this connection is the heresy that allowed [my] blind spot to exist for so many years."