© 2009
At South Church we remind each other each week that we nurture spiritual growth through worship, learning, and community; We celebrate the worth and dignity of all people;
And we inspire one another to act on our faith in the larger community.
Exactly what does that mean to each one of us- what is it we believe- and are we being faithful? Tuesday is election Day- I voted last week in Bangor- How many of you have voted?
According to the laws, 501#C – separation of church and state- I cannot tell you what to vote for… but actually isn’t that what I am sort of doing every single week?
I really think the whole idea of separation of church and state is a mistake- a myth- an illusion at best. Church and state are and always have been inexorably linked in this country. As they should be. Every participant in the democratic process has a “church”. It may be a synagogue, a mosque, a cathedral, an ocean, a mountain, a Goddess, or a bank, but everyone worships something- somewhere. Some core value informs our choices. We all give our life over to something bigger than ourselves and those “somethings” come right along with us into the voting booth, into public debate, marching on into the democratic process.
It is impossible to have a democracy void of the values or pursuits of faith
Rather than protecting or projecting an illusion of separation, what would happen if we were all honest about the connections between churches and state?
Did you know that the United States of America is rated as one of the most religious countries in the world? We are second only to those governments run by religious leaders where law and religion are one.
Many progressives assert that politics is no place for religion-that politicians should not be guided, analyzed, or condemned based upon religious views. The religious right believes politics is exactly the place for theology. Gandhi said, "Those who think politics and religion don't mix understand neither.”
Historically our most influential leaders lived and led based upon their spiritual views. Lincoln knew the bible intimately, quoting from it extensively as a basis for policy. Not because he believed literally that it was the word of God- but because he believed the Bible offered a moral foundation that could inspire human behavior
What is your Bible- on what do you place your faith- what inspires your best self to show up at the voting booth and choose? It is important to know what and how you believe- Unless we all bring our faiths to the democratic process, we run the risk of having one religion- one definition of faith- influencing the governance of our nation. That is what our constitutional guarantee of separation of church and state was written to protect us from, the dominance of one faith over another, the suppression of the right to worship or not and to choose what we believe. The authors of the constitution never expected us to leave our faith out of our politics. Hardly- they counted on the strength of faith and reason to assure a strong democracy.
Our places of worship are the dominant environments for values formation and clarification. We wrestle with the angels here- and then we are strengthened and inspired to wrestle with the city council.
Here in this congregation- we shape, name or define that wisdom and support differently- but what ever our source- it moves into alignment with our principles and purposes. Let’s read them and remember what it is we say we believe in.
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, do covenant to affirm and promote:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
a free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; respect for the interdependent web of being of which we are a part.”
It matters what we believe. We all take our faiths out of their sanctuaries and carry them back into the world. Our faiths only remain relevant if they influence the choices we make. Our faiths should be with us, all the time reminding us of our best selves, a higher purpose and the role of humility, compassion, and love, whether it is in a political arena or the grocery line. We need our spiritual Self to be present, informed, prepared if we are to hold the tensions of a complex world without fragmenting.
The health and well being of our democracy is dependent on informed participation. We need wide representation in the political process so that the agendas established and choices offered are truly representative of the whole nation, of all our most precious and diverse values, not a limited few. We are not a democracy if the money, myths, and minds of a zealous few decide what is important. As a citizen, I can rest more easily with the outcome of an election if I believe the debate has been open, the issues real, and the majority of voices heard. When the faiths and opinions of an outspoken few, are allowed to control or manipulate the facts and speak loudly for a self serving agenda it is not separation of church and state- it is fascism. Unless we all bring our faiths to the democratic process then we run the risk of having one religion- one definition of faith influencing the governance of our nation. That is what our constitutional guarantee of separation of church and state was written to protect us from, the dominance of one faith over another, squelching our right to worship or not and to choose what we believe. We were never expected to leave faith out of politics.
As a minister, I mix church and state. I do that by engaging you all conversation about right wrong, our values and about faith development- encouraging you all to be clear, consistent and aligned in your living and believing. I work to increase voter participation through voter registration, mobilization efforts, public forums, poll monitoring and advocacy so that we are all in the conversation and more and more representation shows what it is we are made of as a nation- I will preach on the values I believe should be influencing our decision making here and outside in the wider community. I will never endorse any position or candidate from the pulpit. Not because I am afraid of breaking the law- but because I believe in open conversation, learning and sharing. I do not want to ever silence or exclude anyone’s process or choice with my own assumption of being right- or knowing what is right. I will raise issues for debate based on our Unitarian Universalist principles and purposes. As a religious professional I will avoid making public statements in support of one candidate or campaigning for a particular stand. As an individual, I will be clearly visible living my faith, putting my values into action.
Each Sunday you are invited to continue our conversation in the community forums to where we can all question, challenge, learn and grow.
People of faith need to be outspoken about their values, clear about their sources. Citizens need to exercise their rights to debate, question, reason and advocate for a particular stand, faith based or not. That is the “church” that needs to walk hand and hand with the “state” assuring the integrity of our democracy. Write letters to the editor- Do it with respect- inclusion and faith it what is right- ask questions- hold on to what you believe while you make room for another to do the same. We may never convince others of the worth ofour values- but we can inspire one anther to be in relationship, to be curious and to generously listen so that we are all included in this process of democracy..
Somewhere in the midst of all our diverse understandings of decency is an experience of all that human decency can be. Stand up and be counted- get your neighbors to stand up and be counted- encourage them whether or not they agree with you- We are all needed to make any and every election year a truly representative process- Get out the vote- Write, Drive- register voters, call, engage and vote your faith-
What is it you believe in- and are you being faithful. Can you tell your neighbors or me what faith you have – in this world in yourself? It is faith that breaks our silence in the presence of the world’s tragedies – it is faith that inspires hope and hope that inspires action.
If, we do believe that there can be nothing more vital than to search with all our hearts and with all our minds for truth and compassion.
...And if we do believe that in a free church we should never cease to explore. Or be content with comfortable finalities.
...If we do believe that the spirit of religious freedom demands that we meet the challenge of our futures with growing insights, new skills and renewed enthusiasm than we must put our faith into our actions…. a faith too deep for description, a faith that does not let us despair - faith that required of us all possible exertions in hope. This presidential campaign is the ultimate confrontation between fear and the desire for supernatural deliverance- and faith in humanity’s ability to rise out of fear and despair into action. The relevance of our faith is reflected in the way that it shapes behaviors and informs our presence in the world.
I have to cast my lot with those who. age after age,
Perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world."