Category: Justice

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I Won’t Be Endorsing Politicians

While I was on leave, the IRS announced that churches could not endorse political candidates without endangering their tax-exempt status. It’s not entirely clear how far churches can go in doing so, but it seems clear that ministers can endorse candidates from the pulpit. I have no intention of doing so. The separation of church and state is essential for the spiritual health of the church and the proclamation of the gospel. The official position of the UMC is:

“While we do not believe churches should affiliate with particular political parties, we do encourage churches to speak out boldly on social issues from a gospel perspective.” [1]

I’ve gotten into trouble for speaking out boldly on social issues from a gospel perspective. [2] That’s good trouble, and I have no intention of stopping. However, I will not bind my call and vocation to any political candidate.

[1] www.umcjustice.org

[2] Actually, I don’t even have to speak boldly to get in trouble. I was once accused of meddling in politics when I gave a sermon on the book of Ruth, where I argued for the importance of loving kindness. I do not regret that sermon.

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The Deportation of U.S. Children

I have been saddened and alarmed by the actions of my beloved country in recent days. Those feelings became much more intense when I learned that, according to the Associated Press (AP),

“Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have in recent days deported the Cuban-born mother of a 1-year-old girl — separating them indefinitely — and three children ages 2, 4 and 7 who are U.S. citizens along with their Honduran-born mothers, their lawyers said Saturday.” [1]

I’m not sure “deported” is the right word for U.S. citizens; perhaps “exiled” is better. In addition, there appear to be questions about whether or not due process was followed.

Thomas Jefferson’s well-known words about slavery again seem apt: “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.” [2] I will continue to pray for this situation. I would encourage you to pray as well. (If you can take more concrete action, please do so.)

Here’s a link to the full article from the AP.

[1] Marc Levy, “Lawyers Say That Ice Has Deported the Mother of a Baby and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen,” AP News, April 26, 2025, link.

[2] “Quotations,” National Parks Service, accessed April 26, 2025, link.

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Calling Out the Evil of Ending USAID

For my own sake, I need to say clearly and directly, that what was done to USAID was evil. This is the backdrop against which I’m preparing my sermon on Jesus’ command that we love our enemies.

Link: “‘We Are Seeing Complete Destruction’: The Damage Done by the U.S.A.I.D. Freeze”

A clarification: I’m not preaching about what was done to USAID, but I am angry about it, and it was in the context of that anger that I found myself writing a sermon on the necessity of loving our enemies. 

A disclaimer: As I’ve shared previously, my brother’s job was funded by USAID. I don’t think what was done to USAID was evil because of my family connection, but I am more aware of it for that reason

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Thoughts on MLK Day

Today, the church office is closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I must confess that there was a time, growing up, when I didn’t understand why we observed MLK Day. I didn’t understand the reasoning behind a federal holiday for a man who had not been president. Over time, as I’ve learned more about United States history and the role played by the civil rights movement, I’ve come to believe that MLK’s place in history overshadows that of many presidents. As a Christian, I also appreciate that MLK’s leadership of the Civil Rights movement was a profoundly Christian undertaking that put the teachings of Jesus into effect in the face of stiff, unrelenting, unethical, and often violent and inhumane opposition. King’s Letter From a Birmingham Jail is an excellent place to start to better understand why I consider the civil rights movement a profoundly Christian endeavor.

You can read the letter at The Atlantic: Link

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Christian Anti-Semitism Makes No Sense

Unfortunately, there has long been a strain of anti-semitism in Christianity. But I’ve noticed that the anti-semitic folks who call themselves Christians have gotten louder lately (at least in the U.S.A.).  Christian anti-semitism makes no sense. It is contrary to reason. It is contrary to any reasonable interpretation of the story scripture tells us. Below are just a few examples why.

  1. Jesus was born a Jew (Luke 2:1-15), circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21), raised a Jew (Luke 2:22-52), was in ministry as a Jew (Luke 4:14-22) and died a Jew (Luke 23:26-43). He was the embodiment of Israel through whom God accomplished all that had been promised to Abraham. You can’t take the Jew out of Jesus. 
  2. As Christians, we were grafted onto God’s Abrahamic project through Jesus Christ. What God is doing in us has not replaced Israel; instead we have been attached to Israel. The apostle Paul warned us not to get cocky. (Romans 11:11-24; 15:12). 
  3. God made promises to Abraham and Sarah; Isaac and Rebecca; Jacob and Rachel; David and countless others. God made promises to Israel as a whole, as a people. (And those promises included their descendants living among us now.) Finally, through Jesus Christ, God made promises to us. If we believe God is true to God’s promises, that means God is true to all of God’s promises, not just the promises made to us. Who are we to try to hinder God?

Now, one of the counter arguments that might be made is that Jesus often disagreed with, argued with, and ran into trouble with Jews. Well, I have often disagreed with, argued with, and run into trouble with Christians. None of that makes me any less a Christian. None of that made Jesus any less of a Jew. 

Christian anti-semitism is senseless, but it is not harmless. It does great harm to Jewish victims. It does harm to non-Jewish bystanders. And it does self-inflicted harm to its perpetrators. It is long past time for those who call themselves Christian and yet perpetrate anti-semitism to repent and return to the arms of the King of the Jews who died for them.

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Voting No Can Also Be Faithful

An anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution is on the ballot on August 2, 2022. The Christian arguments for this amendment are well known. I believe, however, that faithful Christians can be found on both sides of this discussion. Some of my clergy colleagues have made the theological argument for voting no in an article in The Wichita Eagle. Here’s the link for those of you who are interested: https://bit.ly/3zHdTuZ.

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Bishops Respond to the End of Roe

The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church has responded to the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Their response includes the statement: “The issuance of this ruling has denied the sacred worth of women who face ‘the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion.’ ”

The full statement can be found here.

Link: https://bit.ly/3OlFerK

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Bishop Saenz Asks for Prayers for Ukraine

Below is a letter from our Bishop, Ruben Saenz:

Today, Russia launched an unprovoked military invasion against the people of Ukraine. United Methodist Church Bishop Christian Alsted – of the Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area – is asking for United Methodists to stand with the United Methodists in Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in intercessory prayer for protection, reconciliation and peace.

We pray especially for Bishop Eduard Khegay, [United Methodist] bishop of Russia and Ukraine, for wisdom and grace as he shepherds congregations on both sides of the conflict.

Friends, the words of St. Paul encourages us to “suffer together with those that suffer.” (1 Corinthians 12:26a)

For the sake of your sorrowful passion, dear Lord, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Peace,
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.
Great Plains Conference

The letter above can be found at: https://bit.ly/3HnEa2j

A letter from Bishop Christian Alsted of the Baltic and Nordic Episcopal Area can be found here: https://bit.ly/358RgmI

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Faith Voices for Medicaid Expansion

I’ve been invited to join a Zoom meeting to learn more about the group Faith Voices for Medicaid Expansion. This issue matters to me because the failure of Kansas to accept the federal medicaid expansion has hurt people in need and negatively impacted hospitals and health care in Kansas for everyone—insured and uninsured alike.

I’m extending the invitation I received to all of you. Here’s a brief introduction and a link if you’re interested in learning more: https://bit.ly/3n5j14Q. And here’s a link where you can register for the webinar: https://bit.ly/3aOSIKi.

They have a facebook page. Just type “Faith Voices for Medicaid Expansion – KS” into the search bar.