Proud to Be Purple!
A new report from the Duke Religion and Social Change Lab at Duke University found that after a historic exodus of conservative pastors and congregations, the remaining churches in the two Annual Conferences of the North Carolina United Methodist Church have certain shared characteristics. One significant characteristic is that our UM Church in NC is now populated with clergy and congregations who are more, rather than less, politically and racially diverse.
This means that our churches are populated and led by people who do not think all alike, look all alike and certainly will not vote all alike. So, as we approach our important local and national elections this November, our partisan politics is on a collision course with our Christian faith and values to influence not only our vote, but also our thoughts, behaviors, and relationships with one another.
The conclusions of this report pointed out that faith communities who value diversity and plurality without nurturing division are those who will thrive into the future.
And here's the best news from the report.
"What was true of the UMC is even more true now: United Methodist churches remain some of the very few institutions in American society where people from different political persuasions can build deep and meaningful relationships with each other. In a polarized and often toxic political climate, UMC congregations are positioned to advance the ministry of Jesus by creating a beloved community that bridges political and theological divides."
(Disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church in North Carolina: Challenges and Opportunities. Joseph Roso, PhD Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Sociology. David Eagle, PhD Principal Investigator, Religion and Social Change Lab Assistant Professor of Global Health and Sociology. Duke University, Durham, NC)
That's why I will be offering a 6-week preaching series entitled: "The Purple Church." This series will touch on relevant political topics but in no way as an attempt to direct your vote one way or another. My goal is to influence our behavior towards each other and our neighbors as we value and are enriched by the blessing of our differences and our diversity.