US faith leaders hold prayer vigil ahead of election

Sister Bridget Bearss RSCJ

On Monday, 7 November, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist faith leaders from across the United States came together to hold an online prayer vigil ahead of Election Day. In addition to their prayers, faith leaders called on US elected leaders to ensure voters are free from violence and intimidation at the polls.

Faith in Public Life has trained more than 150 peacekeepers or poll watchers in Ohio, Florida and Georgia combined and has faith leaders at polling places across those states on Election Day.

Co-sponsors of the event include: Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Interfaith Alliance, Faithful America, Wisconsin Council of Churches, National Council of Churches, United Church of Christ and Interfaith Power and Light, Sojourners

Jeanné Lewis, Interim CEO, Faith in Public Life said: "We faith leaders have gathered today to testify to our vision of a healthy, multi-faith, multiracial democracy, serving the common good. We are Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist faith leaders from across the country coming together to be in prayer ahead of Election Day and to prepare our hearts, our minds, and our spirits for the journey ahead."

Sister Bridget Bearss, RSCJ, Associate Director for Transformative Justice, The Leadership Conference of Women Religious said: "We call on people of goodwill throughout the entire country to honour and respect human dignity of every person who exercises their right to vote in accordance with [their] own life experience and God-given conscience and we pray for safety, freedom and faith."

Vasu Bandhu, Faith Community Coordinator, Arizona Faith Network said: "The teachings of the Buddha help us to understand and recognize that all beings suffer and all are looking for happiness."

Rev Paul Raushenbush, President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance: "In this election season, inspire us God to reach out to everyone we know and invite them to join us in this sacred act of voting."

Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Executive Director Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice said: "We have a decision to make. Will we live in a society that embraces diversity that strives for equity, that respects all voices...that honours women's autonomy, communities of colour, Native people, LGBTQIA people, all who live here regardless of immigration status, and a society that lives by the values of compassion, unity and love."

Rev Dr Amariah McIntosh, Director of Public Policy, The Ohio Council of Churches said: "We blessed those who are serving in capacities as all chaplains and election peacekeepers to ensure that everyone who shows up will be able to enter their polling places safely and to cast their ballots without fear and intimidation."

Sandy Sorseen, Director DC Office, Washington, DC, Justice and Local Church Ministries United Church of Christ: "We come with anxious minds, and weary hearts, yearning for clarity of vision and a way forward that is rooted in hope, not fear, that is rooted in love, not hate."

Tarunjit Singh Butalia, Executive Director, Religions for Peace USA, added: "We know that there are many barriers to voting. The right to vote is something we must continually protect."

Rev Leo Seyij Allen, Georgia Campaigns Manager, Faith in Public Life said: "I'm praying for everyone who is voting tomorrow in-person - I'll be there. I'm praying for folks like my parents who are poll workers in Nashville, Tennessee. I'm praying for those who are volunteering and are afraid to step out of the house tomorrow."

Rev Dan Clark, Ohio Director of Faith in Public Life said: "We seek peace and will resist the dangerous ideology of white Christian nationalism, which has nothing to do with the teaching of Jesus."

Hajj Reza Nekumanesh, Executive Director, Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno said: "We know oh god that standing and establishing justice can look like so many things. One of the ways that we can establish justice as you have commanded is by checking some boxes. I pray to you oh god to inspire your people to wake up and check some boxes. To check some boxes for health care access, to check some boxes for science, to check some boxes for hope, to check some boxes so that Black bodies are no longer targeted by state and police violence, to inspire us to check some boxes to end predatory capitalism, to check some boxes on behalf of the 11 million undocumented brothers and sisters in this land who don't have the power or right to check those boxes."

For a video of the event, see. www.faithinpubliclife.org/resources/faith-on-the-frontlines-praying-for-election-day/

Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.

Read more about Faith in Public Life: www.faithinpubliclife.org/