Dear members and friends of Holy Trinity and Lutheran Campus Ministry,
I’ll be open and honest with you about how I’m feeling after our National Election. As I hope you will be with me in the same way in the days and months ahead. I value deeply authentic and honest conversations about our common life together.
I feel disappointed and disheartened on many levels.
It appears the out in the open marketing of all phobias and dehumanizing worked.
The way and posture that Christ exemplified seems to be distorted and coopted by a type of Christianity that I refuse to belong to.
It seems like money and the economy are more important than how we treat, talk about, and love our neighbor.
I will not assume that our whole congregation and community of faith voted the same way. BUT I will assume we all care about, and care for, our community of faith.
I will also assume we agree on our mission of “loving God, loving neighbor” and our core values of Worship, Faith Formation, Outreach, and Lutheran Campus Ministry.
It is out of this common care and mission that will lead us together onward and forward.
Over the last few months we have done some amazing ministry together and I’m super proud how we have embodied our mission of “loving God, loving Neighbor”…
Things that come to mind are Sarah’s baptism, Pastor Katie’s ordination, our growing Lutheran Campus Ministry community, our music ministry including our Handbell Concert, and preparations for a vibrant Youth Sunday at worship this Sunday.
I’m also a very proud pastor on many levels.
I have no doubt that we will continue to do great ministry together and grow in our understanding of how to love God and love our neighbor.
Even if in the days ahead it may be harder, or more complicated, or unclear what that will look like… we will love even harder.
I’ll confess I am anxious and nervous about what the days ahead will look like.
…about what shape our Country will take.
…about how we treat our neighbor and if we will be able to have civil discourse even if we disagree with each other.
…about future elections and what those campaigns will sound like and look like.
…about how I/we will be lumped and grouped together with those who express their Christianity in ways I don’t believe align with Christ.
…just to name a few.
Again, being honest, I’m going to allow myself to feel disappointed and disheartened for a while, but I also know God will give me the strength to shepherd those God has entrusted me with. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry has been around before most of us and it will for sure continue long after us.
May we be emboldened to be good stewards of this community God has entrusted us with… within and beyond our walls.
As always, I’m available (in no specific order) to chat, discuss, pray, vent, or just be quiet without words in each other’s physical presence.
You are not alone; we are in all this together.
Pastor Will
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