09/10/2026
Faithfulness in a Loud Season
For the next couple of months, we'll all be living on a steady diet of campaign ads and rally speeches. Every cycle we say pretty much the same thing: "This is the most important election of our lifetime." And every time we say it, it feels like, "Yeah, but this time we really mean it."
Contrary to popular opinion about mixing religion and politics, the church's commitment to peace and justice doesn't go on hiatus during election season. In fact, that's precisely when those who're trying to follow Jesus should be the most attentive to our political life.
But here's the thing: Seeking peace means that we don't get to use language that dehumanizes others, even when our fear and anger make our reflexes feel justified. And seeking justice means that we have no choice but to tell the truth about policies that harm vulnerable people, while protecting the powerful.
Advocating for the kind of world we believe God desires means we remember that, because they carry God's image, people are more than constituency groups and voting blocs. Immigrants, q***r and trans neighbors, and families struggling to survive are beloved children of God whose lives shouldn't be reduced to bumper sticker slogans.
We're going to have disagreements over the coming months. We always do. But that's okay. Faithfulness doesn't mean we have to keep quiet just to keep the peace. We've watched Jesus do it. We know it's possible to speak clearly without stripping others of their dignity.
The church's calling is always the same, even when the "silly season" gets loud: seek justice, make peace, and have the courage to love all of our neighbors.
-Rev. Derek Penwell
