In this last Advocacy Update before Election Day, we share advice from Episcopal leaders on calming voters’ fears and alienation, law enforcement briefings on public safety, and Atlanta bishop, the Rt. Rev. Rob Wright’s podcasts providing the Biblical basis to expose the fallacies of Christian Nationalism.
Don’t amplify anxieties as voting continues, urged Alan Yarborough of the Washington Office of the Episcopal Church in a Zoom call Oct. 23 with EPPN Ambassadors (diocesan liaisons) of the Episcopal Public Policy Network.
“Nourish people’s hope and sense of agency,” he said. “Don’t deprive people of news on how they have made and can make a difference.” There are thousands of polling places where voting will go smoothly. Amplifying disturbing incidents on social media “further erodes trust in institutions and elections.”
“Election security is about the computers, paper ballots, and counting processes. They have proved very secure, but misinformation erodes trust on the right,” he added. “There’s a similar dynamic about voter suppression: amplifying it erodes trust on the left. More laws expanding voting rights have been passed in recent years than restrictions, and more states have expanded voting rights than restricted them.”
Nov. 5, 8-10 pm: Election Night virtual prayers will be the first official act of the new Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe after his consecration on Nov. 2. He will offer an opening reflection and prayer. Episcopalians from around the church will hold silence and lead participants in prayers together for peace, the nation, and all people and countries. Join via Zoom or Facebook Live For those needing interpretation between English and Spanish, please plan to join via Zoom.
Public safety briefings: The Episcopal Church’s Washington Office has participated in US Department of Homeland Security briefings about risks surrounding the election. Violence at individual polling places is not expected to be a serious problem on Election Day, reports Alan Yarborough, though “state capitals could be a focus of violence. ”
In Ohio’s Capital, Columbus, Homeland Security, the FBI, and staff from the Franklin County Board of Elections held a roundtable event for leaders of downtown institutions close to the Statehouse. The Rev. Jed Dearing attended as Rector of Trinity, Capitol Square. “The public safety professionals are not concerned about risks in our area on Election Day, but more about protests after that day,” he reports. “They encouraged us to hold our Election Day services with no fear. I was impressed by how committed all of them are to help and protect everyone. The Franklin County Board of Elections talked about all they are doing to ensure a safe and fair election.”
However, “Jan. 6, 2025 will be a national security event day,” says EPPN’s Alan Yarborough. This is the fourth anniversary of the violence that almost prevented Congress from certifying the 2020 Electoral College results. The staff of the Washington Office of the Episcopal Church will work remotely that day.
In the Columbus briefing, public safety officials spoke candidly about their concerns, citing the bomb threats, fear, and immense disruptions following former President Trump’s and Senator JD Vance’s allegations about Haitians living and working legally in Springfield. They lamented that “so many public safety people were sent to Springfield because of baseless rumors,” reports Fr. Dearing. “Words matter and truth matters, they told us. They asked us to check the truth of what we are hearing and talk to people on the scene.”
The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, Bishop of Atlanta exposes theological fallacies of Christian Nationalism: In a four-part podcast released in September, as well as recent talks including the Oct. 14 Alumni Convocation at Virginia Seminary, Bishop Rob Wright provides a Biblical basis for refuting the claims of Christian Nationalism. Don Plummer, reporter for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, summarizes Bishop Wright’s analysis in this article. “Christian Nationalism is an ideology that’s everywhere, masquerades as a theology that has infected our politics and seeks to guide our policies locally and nationally,” said Bishop Wright in the podcast. “The problem with Christian Nationalism is that it seeks to manipulate Jesus’ teaching for political gain. The problem with Christian Nationalism is that it wants a power Jesus never wanted, by a means Jesus never commended. The problem with Christian Nationalism is that it doesn’t have anything to do with the Jesus of the Bible.”
