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Freedom for a Purpose | Bishop Russell's Election Season Message
William Temple, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, once wrote, “Freedom so far as it is a treasure must be freedom for something as well as freedom from something. It must be the actual ability to form and carry out a purpose.” Christianity and the Social Order
Our responsibility, then, is to participate in using the treasure of freedom for something, to help shape the kind of common life we want for ourselves, our neighbors, and generations to come. Voting is one important way we exercise that responsibility. It is an opportunity to give voice to our convictions, to take part in decisions that affect the lives of others, and to carry out a purpose.
We are living in a deeply divided time. Politics has become intensely personal for many of us. Conversations that once might have been ordinary disagreements can now leave us angry, anxious, or estranged from people we love. Some carry genuine fears about the future of our country. Others feel exhausted by the constant noise, the accusations, and the sense that so much is at stake.
For many, these are not simply differences of opinion. They touch our deepest convictions about justice, freedom, human dignity, and the kind of country we hope to leave to our children and grandchildren. I don’t want to minimize any of that. Nor do I believe that the Church is called to pretend that our differences don’t matter. The decisions we make together have real consequences for real people, especially those who are vulnerable or whose voices are too often overlooked. As Christians, we are called to participate in this moment with both conviction and compassion, guided by the faith we profess and the love we are commanded to practice in order to carry out a purpose that we trust is of God.
So, voting matters. Voting is not merely an exercise of secular citizenship; it is an act of Christian discipleship. I encourage you to become informed, consider the issues and candidates thoughtfully, and cast your ballot. We need not agree on every issue to recognize the importance of participating faithfully in our democracy. We can exercise our freedom without surrendering our judgment to the loudest voices, the angriest rhetoric, or the pressure to regard anyone who disagrees with us as an enemy.
And remember, prayers matter. In the Episcopal Church, we pray regularly for our nation and all who exercise authority. We do so because prayer reminds us that our lives are held by a purpose larger than any election, any political party, or any leader.
So, let us pray. But let us pray not simply that our preferred candidates will win, or that events will unfold according to our wishes. Rather, let us pray for wisdom---for ourselves and for those entrusted with public responsibility. Let us pray for the courage to speak truthfully, to listen generously, and to recognize the dignity of those with whom we disagree.
Finally, remember that who we are matters. Our ultimate allegiance is to Christ Jesus. That allegiance does not remove us from the responsibilities of citizenship; it shapes how we live them.
The Church should be a place where people can worship alongside those with whom they disagree politically---because something deeper holds us together. At the altar, we come not as members of competing political camps, but as people who stand in need of God's grace. We receive the same bread and share the same cup. In so doing, we are restored to each other and to God and transformed to carry out a purpose that we trust is of God: to love our neighbors, feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, care for the sick, to seek justice and peace, to respect the dignity of every human being, and to bear witness to the hope of Christ in a world that too often seems to have forgotten how to hope.
Whatever the outcome of an election, our identity remains. And so too does our call to follow Christ Jesus. So, let us vote thoughtfully. Let us pray earnestly. And may God grant us the grace to remember that, even in the midst of our deepest disagreements, we remain neighbors and, in the Church, the body of Christ.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom and the source of all authority: Look graciously upon our nation and guide us in the ways of justice, truth, and peace. Give wisdom to those who govern, discernment to those who vote, and courage to all who seek the common good. Deliver us from the temptations of fear, hatred, and contempt; teach us to listen with humility, to speak with charity, and to honor the dignity of every human being. In a time of division, make us instruments of your peace; in a time of uncertainty, strengthen our trust in your providence; and in all things, keep us faithful to the way of Jesus Christ, who is our hope and our peace. All this we ask in his holy Name. Amen.
Resources for the Election Season
Election Night Compline - The Episcopal Church
Tuesday, November 3 at 7 p.m. CT | Register Here
As polling places close on the East Coast on Nov. 3, join other Episcopalians in a prayerful service of compline, hosted by the church’s Division of Public Policy, Partnership, and Witness in collaboration with the Mission Program team.
The Rev. Sarah Shipman, director of the church’s Migration Ministries, will officiate. Prayers and readings will be offered in a variety of languages, and participants will be invited to share personal prayers in the chat.
Election Engagement - The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church offers resources to help you register to vote, encourage your neighbors to register, and volunteer or work in support of elections. Additional resources include "What Does The Episcopal Church Say About Civic Engagement?," prayers and materials for congregations, and information on ordering “I Voted” stickers.
