Catholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Orthodox, African-American and Protestant Christian communions & organizations in the U.S.A. witnessing together to the reconciling 
power of the Gospel of Jesus.

U.S. Presidential Elections - Reflections on How to Vote

No other U.S. presidential election in recent history has stirred up more interest and controversy than this year's. During a "normal" presidential election, the choices for Christians who align politically based on their social and economic perspectives have been clear cut; not this time around. For some believers the decision is a no brainer; for others it's a little more complicated. They ask themselves, how much can I compromise my core socio-political positions? Do I temporarily set aside some of these positions given that, in all conscience I cannot support my political party candidate?
 
Again, for some of us choosing the presidential candidate is no brainer. Many others struggle with the reality of choosing between one of two undesirable options.
 
No church or Christian organization has the right, nor the responsibility of choosing a political candidate for any of us. It is a strict matter of our conscience.
 
Each of our Christian traditions and historical leaders have expressed their opinion and theological convictions in regards to politics and the government.
 
In 1774, John Wesley provided very wise counsel about politics in the journal by his name:
 
"I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them:
1) To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy.
2) To speak no evil of the person they voted against.
3) To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side."
 
His advice against our animosity towards those of a different persuasion is so important. Our love and respect for our fellow brothers and sisters cannot be compromised by any political or theological differences. The teaching of the gospel is straight forward on this: "love your neighbor as yourself".
 
In John Calvin's vision, a society which was composed of a Reformed church, and a church comprised of Reformed citizens, were a force that beat back the world, and all evil. Calvin's God demands an obedience that circumscribes not only religious belief and practice, but also every facet of human existence, social, legal, governmental and political. Based on this perspective, the role of politics and government is simply to correct what is evil. Obviously, each one of us must settle the question of what is evil. As followers of Christ the supreme norm to settle this question is the Gospel, the teachings of Christ.
 
The Catholic tradition offers a significant contribution to this topic. The option for the poor or the preferential option for the poor is one of the basic principles of the Catholic social teaching. According to this doctrine, through one's words, prayers and deeds one must show solidarity with, and compassion for, the poor. Therefore, when instituting public policy one must always keep the "preferential option for the poor" at the forefront of one's mind. Accordingly, this doctrine implies that the moral test of any society is "how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. We are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor."
 
The communions in Christian Churches Together have published several statements related to important and current socio-political issues. These statements address these topics: hunger and poverty, racism, immigration and mass incarceration. These statements reflect the consensus of 40 Christian communions and organizations. The statements are available on CCT's website: www.cctusa.net
 
The decision of who will lead our U.S. government is a very serious one. His or her perspectives on the economy, education, health, religious and individual liberties, the political process, war and peace, among others, have the potential to advance the principles of the kingdom of God or trample them. Those who's lives are informed by the gospel must reach deep into their conscience and support candidates that respect its basic principles.

One temptation we must all resist is our inclination to seek access to power. Our influence must not reside in how well connected we are to those in political or governmental positions. Our influence should be no other than our spiritual integrity, our witness to the gospel and our prophetic voice. This is what differentiates a political leader from a spiritual leader.
 
I give thanks to God for the witness of Christian Churches Together and the opportunities that this fellowship offers to Christian leaders of very different theological and political persuasions to engage in respectful dialogue. Those engaged in dialogue in CCT believe that the way forward for our society, or any society, is through a respectful dialogue that seeks God's wisdom present in all of us.
 
Rev. Carlos L. Malav�
Executive Director



Report on an International Consultation 
and Spiritual Pilgrimage 
 
Read report HERE
  
In Historic Vote, PC(USA) Elects J. Herbert Nelson as Stated Clerk
 
PORTLAND - The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, the son, grandson and nephew of Presbyterian pastors, was overwhelmingly elected Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday. The action came from the 222nd General Assembly (2016) meeting June 18-25 in Portland, Oregon.
 
His election is historic. In the more than 300-year history of Presbyterianism in the United States, a black man has never been elected as the top ecclesial officer of the church. The denomination is more than 90 percent white.
Nelson, director of the PC(USA)'s Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C., succeeds the Rev. Gradye Parsons in the four-year term. He was installed immediately after being elected and will begin his new position Aug. 1.

"This is a powerful day, a powerful day in my life and for many people of color who did not envision the possibility of this ever happening," said Nelson, a teaching elder and member of National Capital Presbytery. "

Nelson was the pick of the Stated Clerk Nomination Committee, tasked with presenting a nominee to the assembly, which it did on June 19. He was challenged by the Rev. David M. Baker, stated clerk and communications director for the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, whose name was placed into nomination by Ruling Elder Dan Johnson from Tampa Bay presbytery.

In accepting the new positIon, Nelson acknowledged his strong foundation as a Presbyterian, and asked the assembly to walk with him in this new journey.
"I would not be standing here without a Presbyterian family," he said. "Pray for me, work with me, and not on me."

Described by the nomination committee chair as someone who "will be both priest and prophet," Nelson will help guide the Reformed denomination's 1,572,660 members and 9,642 churches.

He has a long history of service to the denomination, including as pastor of St. James Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, and organizing pastor for Liberation Community Church in Memphis, Tennessee. He has led the PC(USA) Washington office since 2010.

Nelson follows in the footsteps of his father, James Herbert Nelson; grandfather, Warren Julius Nelson; and two uncles, who were all Presbyterian pastors. His mother, Johnalee B. Nelson, was a ruling elder and active on the national level of Presbyterian Women and in global missions work. Nelson is married to the Rev. Gail Porter Nelson, pastor of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. They have one adult daughter, Alycia Yvette Nelson.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is the largest Reformed denomination in the United States. It has 1,572,660 members and 9,642 churches.

Original source: www.presbyterianmission.org

North American Academy of Ecumenists

Annual gathering "Commemorating the Reformation: Churches Looking Together Toward 2017 - and Beyond"

September 23-25, 2016
Atlanta, GA
 

The 2016 Student Prize
The Brother Jeffrey Gros Memorial Fund
-- June 15, 2016 Deadline
Open to current undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in Christian unity.
 
For more information, visit www.naae.net

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