Registration is open for the Nov. 5 event hosted online by the Office of Public Witness
by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service
The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins (photo by Rich Copley)
LOUISVILLE — After casting your ballot on Nov. 5, you’re invited to join the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for an online prayer vigil to help relieve anxiety, create a sense of community and be unified in Christ.
The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness is hosting the nonpartisan event at 6 p.m. (Eastern) on Election Day and welcomes people of any faith — or political persuasion — “to gather in peaceful prayer and commitment to justice,” said the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, the PC(USA)’s advocacy director.
Participating in the vigil, “Faith, Democracy, and Justice: Prayers for Our Nation on Election Night,” is a way to show unity in Christ rather than a particular party.
“Our unity in Christ and allegiance to God is above all other obligations,” Hawkins said. “And it is this unity and this allegiance that calls us forward to embrace civic discipleship, including participating in the election as a spiritual practice.”
The Rev. Jihyun Oh
Special guests who are scheduled to participate include:
- The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Executive Director and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly leading the unified interim agency
- The Rev. Tony Larson and the Rev. CeCe Armstrong, co-moderators of the 226th General Assembly of the PC(USA)
- Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, regional liaison to the Caribbean and co-moderator of the 223rd General Assembly.
“Recognizing that the U.S. election impacts global politics and that most of our current line-up are English speakers, we are inviting you to share a moment of prayer in Spanish and to incorporate an international perspective in leadership,” Cintrón-Olivieri said.
Other PC(USA) staffers participating, along with Hawkins, include Sue Rheem of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations in New York, where she’s head of office and Presbyterian representative to the UN; OPW Mission Associate Ivy Lopedito; the Rev. Christina Cosby of OPW; and OPW intern Emily Allen.
The Rev. Christina Cosby (photo by Tammy Warren)
“We will hold the events of the day close in prayer, recognizing that we will come to this service of prayer holding various experiences of casting our ballots, waiting in long lines without food and water and possibly experiencing intimidation based on race, gender, citizenship and age at the polls,” said Cosby, OPW’s representative for domestic issues & environmental justice.
Although the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will be the top news that day and some polls will still be open at the time of the vigil, the PC(USA) event is not designed to promote either candidate.
“We are praying for peace, unity and collective healing, not for Harris or Trump,” Allen said.
Cosby added, “As Presbyterians, we prioritize values and faith-based morals over people and parties, and we recognize that God gives unique gifts to each person, equipping them to lead in a variety of ways. It is in this spirit that we gather in prayer on Election Day. This will be a nonpartisan event and prayers for specific political candidates or political parties will not be included.”
Allen is looking forward to the event as a way to bring people together.
“People can benefit from a prayer vigil by joining in communion on a night where our separateness seems entirely pervasive,” Allen said.
“This prayer vigil will challenge the narrative that Americans are too politically opposed to connect with each other. The ministry of Jesus Christ brought people together from all walks of life and it is the church’s responsibility to continue this ministry and open doors to connection and relationships without needing to clarify any child of God’s political party or alliance.”
Register here to participate in the vigil. A recording will be made available on social media for those who cannot attend the live event. Watch OPW’s Prepare for the Polls series on Instagram.
The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness is one of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
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