No One But Ourselves
Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Bishops Blog - Bishop's Blog: Post
Bishop Mariann’s Blog
No One But Ourselves
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel.
Philippians 1:27
In full disclosure, I voted for Democrats and Independents this week. I’m glad that the president was re-elected, and I personally would have been happy if all Tea Party Republicans had been voted out of office, not for their political views, but their collective refusal to compromise on matters vital to our country’s future. All around me, of course, are people who voted for Governor Romney and hoped that all liberal Democrats would have been sent packing.
I woke up on Wednesday pondering what it meant that after an immoral amount of money was spent in the most expensive election in our nation’s history, the power balance in the federal government remains virtually unchanged. Many things did change as the result of Tuesday’s election, of course, but not the balance of power: The president will serve another 4 years. For now, the Democrats will control the Senate while the Republicans control the House.
More gridlock is one possibility, four more years of the same governmental stalemate that has so frustrated us all. But I wonder if the election results are a unique opportunity to change our country for the better. For we have no illusions that a painless solution to the challenges we face lies ahead. Nor can we make real strides for the good we seek without working with those with whom we disagree. The stakes are too high: we simply must collaborate, taking our cues from those who learned from Hurricane Sandy what disasters require—cooperation and shared sacrifice, for the good of all.
Sometimes we pray for deliverance and God gives us back ourselves. “Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling,” St. Paul goes on to write in the letter to the Philippians, “for God is the one who enables you both to want to and to live out His good purposes.” We must all help solve the problems that we all had a hand in creating, and like it or not, as Americans, we’re all in this together.
Ed Loucks
I'm an old white guy, and I agree with you 100%! Thanks for being so open in a time when people make enemies of those who disagree with them. I voted for President Obama. There are members of my family with whom I cannot discuss political views because they question my theology, my salvation and my sanity. How sad!
Wanda Lukasik
Bishop Mariann, I do not agree with you but its America and we all have that right. I voted for Mitt Romney and felt good to do so. I don't think President Obama has the countrys interest at heart and am not looking forward to another 4 years with him.
GLORIA ANDERSON DUCKER
BISHOP, THANKS FOR SHARING, I AGREE AND VOTED THE SAME WAY. AS A COUNTRY WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN OUR DIFFERENCES AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, IN THE NAME LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS CRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR! PEACE
Richard Toikka
Bishop Marianne: Please keep your offensive left-wing political views about candidates for public office to yourself. They have no place in the preaching of the Gospel of Christ and could jeopordize the church's tax exempt status. See below. WASHINGTON (June 1, 2012)--IRS regional manager Peter Lorenzetti told pastors attending the Faith Leaders Summit meeting in Washington that activities that could result in loss of tax-exempt status include endorsing or opposing candidates, campaigning for them or making contributions to their campaigns. But pastors are free to do any of those things as private citizens, U.S> Rep. G. K. Butterfield, D-N.C., said. "You simply cannot do it in your capacity as the pastor of the church and give the implication that the church is endorsing the candidate,” Butterfield, a former judge, said. Lorenzetti said churches can distribute voter guides that educate about political issues without favoring a particular candidate. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John F Barton
Paying off the deficit is going to be painful, but I believe we all must participate in any bipartisan solution to it. For the sake of Justice all bankers and officials of financial institutions, including Wall Street, who knowingly traded or underwrote unsafe mortgages should undergo court trials by jury and, if convicted, be imprisoned.
Elton Smith
You hit the bulls-eye. Thank you for an especially succinct and helpful message that all of us can affirm! Elton Smith
Dana Griswold
Bishop Mariann I am outraged by your article. You purport to be seeking compromise, but apparently only if Republicans are the ones who give in to Democrats. I am an Episcopalian, Republican woman who aligns with the Tea Party. You demonize people like me who are equally passionate about the best way for our government to help people. If you really wanted us to come together, you could have omitted that one incendiary sentence and said something more gracious and welcoming to those of us on the other side. You do know that 51% of Americans voted for Obama, 49% voted for Romney? This was NOT a mandate for Democrats, and clearly there are equal numbers of people with opposing political views. There is not only a divided Congress, but a divided nation that will not be able to come together when statements like yours are published. I expect better from church officials.
Willis Van Devanter
Right on! I agree with what you had to say. The important thing that we must do is to come together and work our way out of our differences and our problems.
Margaret Cook
My dear bishop....I must disagree with you. It always amazes me that the liberals of this world preach about being so forgiving and taking on the pain of others. But the way I see it, we as a people all care abut others and the way each lives. I am an American and child of God first. It disgusts me to label others...including the label of liberals. For you to categorize Tea Party Republicans ....is in itself being closed minded and prejudice. Why the labels? I am a registered Republican....but I vote with my mind and heart as an American. I vote for both if I feel that individual will make a difference in this country. I truly was sad about the President being re-elected. But he is my President and I am praying he guides this country on a better path than he has thus far. My disappointment is in your blog....and the direction of my church. I love my church....but not always the persons who try to run it.
kay Volman
I am one of the people who was in hopes the democrats would have been sent packing. As one of the makers in society I fear what will happen when we become a country of more takers as we are very close to becoming . The president will not have anyone one to stop him from turning this country into the Socialist country he wants it to be.As long as people can sit home on their couch and make as much or more money than they will ever make working the Dems will stay in office. I am very sorry to hear you support this administration with all the hidden agendas it has. God save this country.
Jim Shaffner
Bishop Budde: That you voted for the president's reelection comes as no surprise given the Episcopal church's espousal of all things liberal. However, I find you comments about the principalled members of the House of represntatives who are seeking a path back to fiscal sanity disturbing. Principles that don't conform to your worldview are princples nonetheless. Your remarks suggest that your definition of compromise is that congress aquiese to the president's wishes and that comprise on his side is not warranted. Please keep in mind that those "Romney voters" all around you are gamely trying to hold on to their Episcopalian roots. Some, like my wife, have already given up, but some us, while deeply saddened by the church's far left political position, still cling to the rich tradition of the Episcopal church that was. I don't write this to try to change your worldview, only to remind you that, as leader of the Washington Diocese, you are the shepherd of all of us, including the many who do not share your political views. Respectfully, Jim Shaffner
John Fay
I agree with all you wrote. It will be terribly difficult to communicate with people who get all their news and views from extreme right-wing media.
Jerry Volman
I'm sorry to see that you felt compelled to share your politics with us. I did not vote for the socialist or for same sex marriage as you did. I can only assume that you believe our county was founded to be controlled by those that want to be taken care of not those that take care of theirselves.
Brent Grimes
It is common knowledge that the Episcopal Church has evolved into one of the most liberal institutions in America and it therefore comes as neither surprise nor news to anyone that our Bishop is a liberal. In my opinion, it was unnecessary to lead your article by pointing out what is already obvious to most -- that you vote only for Democrats and perhaps the occasional liberal independent. But then, by implication and innuendo, you proceed to subtly call into question those who did not vote as you. As a result of the Church's continuing evolution to orthodox liberalism, many if not all Episcopalians holding more conservative views and values than our Bishop and her flock (yes, there are a few of us remaining) tend to feel increasingly marginalized and alienated by a church whose hierarchy reflexively -- and erroneously -- assumes that virtually all Episcopalians are marching to the same politically liberal drum, and which is dismissive of those who fail to align with them. To be clear, conservative Episcopalians -- and conservatives in general -- do not wantonly poison the environment, steal from the poor, kick our dogs or eat our young. We have views that, while not as liberal as current mainstream Episcopal political thought, are every bit as prayerfully considered as those of our liberal brothers and sisters. And, I would submit, we are more tolerant of their views than they are of ours. I fully understand that the political and religious spheres of our lives often overlap and, as result, can generate confusion, concern, discord and even conflict within the Church at large. Obviously, when such instances present themselves, they must be addressed. That said, I do not think it necessary or even appropriate to make arbitrary and purely political observations and judgments that can be construed as dismissive, antagonistic and, ultimately, divisive. Doing so calls into question the morality and spirituality of those whose politics differ from the majority.
Mariann Budde
Many thanks to all who responded, and especially those who found my thoughts offensive. I did not mean to offend, and I truly value those who see the world differently. If any would like to speak further, I welcome personal conversations on these important matters. For we cannot speak to one another in the Church and find our way to common ground, we will fail in our call to hold a common witness, in the midst of a divided country, to a vision larger than ourselves.
Earl H. Foote
I appreciate Bishop Mariann's statements about reconciliation and working together. I sense that the current bishop is more Christ-focused and Gospel-focused than her, um, immediate predecessor. As probably the only person in my parish (St. Stephen and the Incarnation) to have voted for Romney, I understand the need to work with people of differing viewpoints. I sincerely hope that both sides listen to each other and are willing to compromise. I have seen zero evidence that Democrats are willing to compromise, but Republicans seem to be almost as stubborn. I certainly agree with Bishop Mariann that we are all in this together, we all created the problems, and we need to work together to solve them.
Darlene Guy
Bishop Mariann- I personally think you should have refrained from sharing your personal vote.. Our church has become too political and it's harming our church attendance. I refuse to listen to politics in church. Liberal voices will do more harm then good. We are in troubling times and we all want our country to work together. I hope our God will continue to bless all of us.
Charley Hendricks
I am glad that Bishop Mariann opened a conversation about the 2012 election in her blog last Thursday because I believe that in our republic Christians can work most effectively to benefit our fellow man only by participating politically. My vote for President Obama was impelled above all by his success in getting enacted a health care plan that will enable millions more Americans to enjoy the benefits of health insurance that I already have and find so valuable. I cannot conceive of individual acts of charity being equally effective as this law. I differ from Bishop Mariann, however, in that I do not see our recent national government as gridlocked, just contentious. I believe, for example, that the sequestration deadline that the 112th Congress and President Obama enacted will soon lead to necessary, albeit painful, decisions to levy higher taxes than we now pay and to reduce government spending. While I too did not vote for any Tea Party candidates, I find it only fair to applaud the fiscal compromises that both Republican and Democratic members of Congress have negotiated and supported. Neither presidential campaign much ballyhooed these compromises, but we citizens should be grateful for them. I will join Bishop Mariann in working and praying for more.
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Linda Kaufman
I love the thought, "Sometimes we pray for deliverance and God gives us back ourselves." Yikes and so true. I am putting up on the wall with the fear and trembling to think about it.