November 7

Since Tuesday’s presidential election, I have been receiving texts, phone calls, and emails from church members who are fearful, depressed, and in shock. They are concerned, not only about the future of the country, but for their own personal wellbeing. This is especially true of our LGBT members.

Since 1993, the people of Asbury Memorial have worked hard at affirming LGBT people. We even left the United Methodist denomination because we would no longer tolerate the discrimination against members of our church family. Now that our gay brothers and sisters no longer have to be concerned about their church, they are now concerned about their government, especially in regards to Project 2025.

I wish I could say that there is nothing to be concerned about. However, we are witnessing events that many of us thought we would never see in our country. After the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021 – after the attack on our democracy and on our police officers and political leaders – many of us believed that the re-election of Donald Trump was impossible. After all, not only did he incite the rioters, he “happily” watched the chaos on television while his staff and family members encouraged him to do something about the violence. There was a time, not very long ago, when such actions would have been a disgrace and a dereliction of duty that would bring forth criminal charges. At the time, the leader of the Republican Party said, “There is no question – None – that President Trump is responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it.,,,,,he provoked the criminals who were holding his banners, hanging his flags, and screaming their loyalty to him…..His unconscionable behavior did not end when the violence actually began.” 

Yet somehow, Trump will hold the most powerful position in the world again. 

There’s also the fact that a convicted felon has never been elected president of the United States. I heard a minister say, “We had a choice between a prosecutor and a criminal, and we chose the criminal. The people shouted 'Barabbas.'”

We have already seen the rights of women taken away to control their own bodies. We see no regard for caring for the environment and God’s creation…even in the obvious consequences we’re dealing with due to climate change. We worry for the people of Ukraine who have already suffered and sacrificed so much. So I understand people’s fears, depression, and shock. To say the obvious - these are strange, strange times.

People who voted for Trump should not be blamed.  I repeat: People who voted for Trump should not be blamed.  I’m sure most Trump voters believe they were doing what was best for the country. We, however, should ALL be blamed for allowing a system where disinformation is so easily promoted. We have to find a way where truth can be known or our society is doomed. We have to find a way where falsehoods and lies are not the norm and acceptable.

We should also be blamed for not fully examining the lives of the candidates. I imagine that 90% of Trump’s voters do not even know who Roy Cohn was and the horrible influence he had on Trump. Described as one of the most evil people in the 20th century by many historians, Cohn was Trump’s mentor. Trump uses Cohn’s playbook constantly. Ironically, Cohn was a closeted gay man who died of AIDS. Now his own playbook of attack and deceit may come to hurt LGBT people.

To say the other thing that’s obvious, I am angry and still grieving and lamenting.   I’ll be fine by Sunday…and will be offering words of hope and encouragement on November 10th.     In fact, it’s going to be a great worship service. But like everyone else who has a major disappointment or loss, I need to grieve, too. I am especially saddened for our LGBT members, our women members, for my children, and grandson, and frankly for all who live on this beautiful planet.

But I have people texting, calling, and emailing me for help – for words of encouragement. Since it is difficult for me to give encouragement (until Sunday), let me offer you three resources that I have found helpful.

God bless you as we put our trust in God and seek to follow the Way of Christ. The sun will come out on Sunday!

To my friends and family who voted for Donald Trump:

It's 4:30 a.m. Central Time, and your candidate has won the presidential election. Congratulations. I assume that you felt as strongly about this election as I did.

If you love me as you say you do, I need to ask several things of you.

First, recognize that I am here, in your life, in your family. We each cultivate bubbles of our own on social media and in real life, but at this time, I need to know that you still value me and affirm that it's important that I am in your life. 

Second, be gentle with me and the other half of our country who voted differently. We are scared. We are scared for our healthcare. We are scared for our marriages. We are scared for our sisters, wives, and daughters. We are scared for our neighbors who look and worship differently from us. We are scared about our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Let us know that you care about preserving these truths, not just for those who agree with you but for all of us. 

Third, I ask that you join me in holding our elected leaders to a high standard of conduct and living out our pledge to uphold liberty and justice for all. Historically, that has been hard for our country to do. Let's work together to make it more of a reality over these next four years. 

As for me, I will do my best to put one foot in front of the other in the next few days. I'll be honest; it's going to be hard. But while doing that, I will look only to Jesus as the author and perfector of my faith, not any political party, candidate, or nation. I will hold all our elected leaders in my prayers. And I will pray for you and our country that, in time, we will not be made great again...but made whole.

You are awakening to the 
same country you fell asleep to.
The very same country.

Pull yourself together.

And,
when you see me, 
do not ask me
"What do we do now?
How do we get through the next four years?"

Some of my Ancestors dealt with 
at least 400 years of this 
under worse conditions.

Continue to do the good work.
Continue to build bridges, not walls.
Continue to lead with compassion.
Continue the demanding work 
of liberation for all.
Continue to dismantle broken systems, 
large and small.
Continue to set the best example 
for the children.
Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.

Continue right where you are.
Right where you live into your days.

Do so in the name of 
The Creator who expects 
nothing less from each of us.

And if you are not "continuing" 
ALL of the above, 
in community, partnership, collaboration?
What is it you have been doing?
What is it you are waiting for?

Love,
Billy