Dear Friends,
What a week!
People across the country are still processing the remarkable wave of political change that was decided in Tuesday’s elections. Pundits are hard at work, asking what such a “blue tsunami” means for legislative priorities in the next two years, mulling the prospects of cooperation between the branches of government, and pontificating about which rising political stars are most likely to run for president in 2028.
Aside from the huge political swing that has taken place, I am especially rejoicing in the way this election has elevated and promoted a new generation of diverse leaders. Women, Latina, Black, and LGBTQ+ governors and senators have been swept into offices where their experience, giftedness, and leadership will help to shape society for those they serve.
I have lived most of my life in two of the states that voted for historic firsts in this election. My home state of Ohio elected their first woman governor (who, not incidentally, overcame a vile political attack on her personal trauma during the last few days of the campaign). And Texas (the state where I lived for nearly 25 years, raised a family, taught in a public high school, and began my ordained ministry) made so much unimaginable-in-wildest-dreams kind of history (including their first Latina Governor and first millennial U.S. Senator (age 37)—that I would need several pages to recount it all.
I know many of us will have a lot of fun during the next few weeks, talking about the history that was made in places where we come from or continue to keep meaningful connections. Many of us moved from other states to make our homes in Oregon. I am excited to hear about your thoughts on Iowa, Kansas, Georgia, South Carolina, California, Wisconsin, and so many other places.
Last Sunday, we heard the Beatitudes read aloud from the Gospel of Matthew: “Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn and those who are gentle. Blessed are the hungry and thirsty after justice. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure hearted. Blessed are the persecuted. Blessed are the peacemakers.”
In all of the current political excitement, our work as church has not changed at all. Elections have consequences, and it should go without saying that, regardless of outcome, elections don’t replace our call to faithful work and witness to God’s dream in this world. That list of “blesseds” from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount helps us to keep our eyes focused, and our wills set, for the world God dreams of.
If you are still celebrating this week, wonderful! If you are not, that’s okay, too. We don’t have to feel the same way about an election to share the same calling. Together, our work remains what it has always been: to be Church for the sake of the world.
With you in it,
The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector
