As we approach one of the most consequential elections in history, Third Act Faith hosted an interfaith workshop on preaching an election sermon, led by Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, and Imam Jamal Rahman. A video of this online workshop is available on the Third Act Faith YouTube channel.
In his introductory remarks, Rev. Antal, a member of the TAF Coordinating Committee, noted that trusted religious leaders have offered election sermons since 1634, in order to reflect on the moral qualifications of those running for office. Many clergy are hesitant about doing that now, fearing they will violate IRS regulations against endorsing particular parties or candidates.
But the ban on such partisan actions does not preclude discussion of politics, which the panelists described as the way we order our life together. As Rev. Antal said, “Engaging public life is as important as any purpose of the church, the synagogue, or the mosque….I think that one of our responsibilities as clergy is to help shape our life together, as a community, as a nation, and as a world.”
In describing the importance of justice in the Jewish tradition, Rabbi Kolin said that Jews are not allowed to pray in a sanctuary without windows so that they are aware of the needs of the outside world. Prayer shouldn’t draw us inward, but outward and upward and towards other people, she said. “Politics and the public square, and prayer and ritual are not so different, if through all of them we’re meant to be thinking about how we take care of each other.”
Citing the Islamic scholar and poet Rumi, Imam Rahman echoed that idea, saying that Muslims around the world form a circle as they bow in prayer, but they must also be of service to each other. “Be a lamp, a lifeboat, or a ladder to others,” Rahman said. “Voting is an act of service to others.”
All three religious leaders noted that congregations offer space where people of different political beliefs and parties can come together to find common ground. In over twenty years of working with a rabbi and a Lutheran pastor as the “Interfaith Amigos,” Imam Rahman said the three have learned that the best way to overcome polarization is to get to know each other.
Noting the unique place of sanctuaries at a time when media and political parties are amplifying ideological differences, Rev. Antal said, “An election sermon can remind our congregants that chief among our many concerns–as people of faith–is our concern for the common good.”
Reports from the breakout conversations also emphasized the importance of loving neighbors, including those with different political beliefs. By creating safe space that is lacking in other parts of society and drawing on their sacred scriptures, congregations can make a huge difference in how American culture navigates the coming months and years.
The panelists and participants offered some specific suggestions for preaching election sermons and for individual actions. Asked to share a relevant scripture passage, Rabbi Kolin offered Numbers 27:1-11, a story about how the daughters of Zelophehad challenged Moses and other leaders to deal fairly with them after their father died. Imam Rahman cited several passages, including a caution to consult your own heart, no matter what religious authorities say, which is mentioned 132 times in the Qur’an.
Rev. Antal compiled a list of resources for preaching an election sermon. He will also be taking part in another panel on Tuesday, October 1, at 4:00 PM CT/7:00 PM ET, discussing “Politics, the Media, and the Church’s Role in Truth-Telling in an Election Season.” Details and the registration link are on the website for the Wisconsin Council of Churches and the Clergy Emergency League, which is sponsoring the event.
Finally, workshop participants were encouraged to compare party platforms and candidates’ positions to specific religious texts or values that they hold dear. Rev. Antal offered a list of moral principles that most religions embrace: addressing the needs of the least of these among us, assuring and advancing justice, promoting the common good, telling and adhering to truth, and preserving and restoring the integrity of creation. These could form the core of an election sermon, and they provide clear guidance to all of us as we prepare to cast our votes in November.
You can also read articles by Rev. Antal on preaching an election sermon and on the sacred right to vote.