The writers note that they originally sent this letter to their congregation. "We offer it for your publication in the hope that it might give people of other traditions encouragement to articulate their own perspectives, and as an invitation to work together for justice in America for all people."
BRATTLEBORO-The election has brought about a significant set of challenges to those of us who profess our faith in Jesus Christ. The president-elect, in his own words, those of his surrogates, and in Project 2025, makes clear the next four years will see a radical assault on civil norms, law, and constitutional order. We are called to bear witness to the Gospel in "interesting times"!
First, it is important to remember that many of those who voted for the president-elect are not terrible people. They are our family members, neighbors, co-workers and friends. Many of them have legitimate concerns about their declining financial security. And while they have been fed lies so that they believe the chosen scapegoats are the cause of this, the oligarchs who are responsible are visible in plain daylight.
Our task is to love these voters while bearing witness to the truth and to the love through which we are all called to healing broken lives. This will not be easy work.
Secondly, we will need to take care of ourselves and one another. In these times, it may be difficult to remain hopeful, joyful, and engaged with the world around us.
We may wish to just retreat for good. Instead, we need to support one another in measured times of retreat and renewal, regular prayer, fellowship, and compassion, along with encouragement to keep the faith in these times.
Third, we are called to live prophetic, engaged lives standing in nonviolent solidarity with immigrants, the poor, religious and ethnic minorities, women seeking reproductive health care, government workers, union members, librarians, teachers and people in the media, LGBTQ folks, and many others who are being or will be targeted in scapegoating attacks.
We are called to bear witness to the love of Christ for "the least of these" - whoever is scapegoated.
And we need to be proactive, because the president-elect and his team are planning to push the norms and boundaries very soon. We need therefore to begin praying and planning for ways we can adapt to these new situations to give comfort to those who are oppressed and truth to those who are misled.
And we always need to keep nonviolence in the forefront of our prayer and actions.
Let us confer with one another in Christian love and prepare to bear effective witness.
The Beloved Community VT
Brattleboro
Rev. Ralph Howe//Rev. Suzanne Andrews
The writers note that they originally sent this letter to their congregation. "We offer it for your publication in the hope that it might give people of other traditions encouragement to articulate their own perspectives, and as an invitation to work together for justice in America for all people."
This letter to the editor was submitted to The Commons.
This piece, published in print in the Voices section or as a column in the news sections, represents the opinion of the writer. In the newspaper and on this website, we strive to ensure that opinions are based on fair expression of established fact. In the spirit of transparency and accountability, The Commons is reviewing and developing more precise policies about editing of opinions and our role and our responsibility and standards in fact-checking our own work and the contributions to the newspaper. In the meantime, we heartily encourage civil and productive responses at [email protected].