“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though
many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body
—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” - 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Dear Siblings in Christ,
In baptism, we are united with Christ and one another to be heralds of the Good News of Jesus Christ and bearers of God’s undimmable love. The deep bonds we share through the waters of baptism transcends party affiliations, partisan platforms, or political policies. The communion we share in baptism is an undissolvable bond that transcends every division of ideology, nationality, or ethnicity. Our faith binds us one to another in an economy of hope and a common destiny of mutuality.
In this moment, our nation feels divided, disconnected, and disjointed. We find ourselves at a crossroads of conscience with the voices of vitriol and extremism resounding ever more loudly around us. As people of faith, we know that God is in the business of redemption and resurrection. It is often the courageous peacemakers and the resilient wisdom seekers who lead the people of God to a new day. That was true in the past and it is true for us now.
As we approach the November 2024 election in November, remember that voting is not merely a political exercise, but also a deeply spiritual act. It is an opportunity to live out our Baptismal Covenant as we make choices that reflect not just personal interests, but the greater good, unity, and compassion for all. Each vote cast is a powerful prayer for the world we wish to see and the aspirations we hope to achieve. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” are not simply the words of the Lord’s Prayer but the dream of God’s reign in, through, and among us.
As you prepare to cast your ballots, I encourage you to be immersed it the holy action of prayer. Pray for our nation. Pray for those standing for elected office. Pray that we may not see each other as enemies to be vanquished but as siblings, neighbors, and friends whom we love even in our disagreement.
Pray fervently. Vote faithfully.
The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson, XI Bishop of Missouri