Help us to ‘organize and to vote in ways that show love for our neighbor as ourselves’
by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service
The Rev. Denise Anderson, Compassion, Peace & Justice director in the Presbyterian Mission Agency, interacts with fellow participants at the launch of the Moral Monday Season of Prayer. (Photo courtesy of Jimmie Hawkins)
LOUISVILLE — Religious leaders from multiple faiths, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), came together on Monday in Washington, D.C. to kick off a season of prayer and action as the country hurtles toward the election of a new U.S. president.
The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, advocacy director for PC(USA), and the Rev. Denise Anderson, director of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, were among those who participated in the prayer vigil, which was promoted by Repairers of the Breach as a way to “work to heal our nation’s divisions and call on all people to pray and organize with their actions and their hearts.”
Much of the emphasis by clergy gathered for the event was on voting in November, not losing sight of the plight of poor people, and the importance of working together to bring about better policies and election outcomes.
“As we look toward this election, help us, O God, to organize and to vote in ways that show love for our neighbor as ourselves,” Anderson prayed. “Create in us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us, a spirit that reminds us of our collective power. … O God, we will claim our power. We will not give it away freely.”
The event, which is part of an ongoing series of Moral Monday prayers, took place just days after a historic decision by President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race and throw his endorsement behind Vice President Kamala Harris in an effort to prevent former President Donald Trump from retaking the White House.
The vigil also closely follows an assassination attempt against Trump, the announcement of JD Vance as Trump’s running mate, and Trump’s renewed courting of Christians, whom he recently reassured would not have to vote again if he makes it back in office.
In opening remarks at Monday’s prayer vigil, Bishop William J. Barber II, president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breech, described voting as a God-given right and categorized Trump’s remarks as sinful, without naming him.
For anyone of any party to claim they alone can fix everything “is, in fact, idolatry,” said Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign along with the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, a PC(USA) pastor. “And we, who are people of faith, know that among the greatest sins is idolatry and mistreatment of the poor and the marginalized.”
Barber went on to quote several scriptures, all basically warning against putting one’s trust solely in man and stressed these four words from Mark 11:22: “have faith in God.”
This election season, which includes any number of down-ballot races as well, is about vetting candidates who care about abolishing poverty, creating “a living minimum wage” and ensuring access to full and expanded voting rights, Barber said. He also talked about the importance of having strong social “safety net” programs and universal healthcare and ending gun violence.
Emphasizing the importance of persistence, he said, “We are supposed to stand for justice and be like a widow that will not stop knocking at the door, until the systems of the world grant justice.”
Bishop William J. Barber, II, president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breech, speaks with the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, advocacy director for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), at the launch of the Moral Monday Season of Prayer. (Photo courtesy of Jimmie Hawkins)
During a time of prayer, PC(USA)’s Hawkins called for a change in the type of leaders who are being elected to office at various levels.
“There are far too many already in office who care more for themselves than those who put them in office in the first place,” he said. “Far too many promise chaos and deliver on that promise by voting for legislation that offers nothing for most citizens, only benefiting those who already have too much, while disparaging those who have far too little of the necessities of life,” including housing and access to a good education.
Hawkins prayed that God would “open our eyes that voters might elect those whose hearts resonate with a determination to do justice, to love kindness, in a humble walk with our God.”
Several other faith groups were represented, including the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Islamic Community Center of Potomac, the United Church of Christ and the Montgomery County Sikh Community.
The Rev. Dr. Sophia Betancourt, president of the Universalist Unitarian Association, declared, “Our people deserve responsible leaders who center our most impacted poor and marginalized communities and work to repair the corruption of systemic oppression.”
“In this time, marked by intentional division and the encouragement of hate among neighbors, let us instead put our faith to work in support of our communities,” Betancourt continued. “Let their prayers be heard as a call to organize, to build our collective power and to sustain our moral witness through November and beyond.”
Additional Moral Monday prayers will be held on the last Monday of each month until the election.
To view a recording of this week’s vigil, go here.
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