“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4: 14-21 (21) — NRSV
Jesus’ ministry and mission articulated in the Gospel of Luke at verses 18 and 19 is a divine word that still needs to be proclaimed today. But more than just proclaimed.
2022 presents another daunting challenge and defining opportunity in our nation’s history. What’s at stake? The right to vote and fair and free elections. The very foundations of our democracy are in danger.
19 States across the country have already enacted 34 laws that restrict and deny the right to vote. This includes limiting voting by mail, enacting barriers to registering new voters, establishing tougher voter identification laws, empowering partisan poll watchers and shifting election authority, which will make administration of elections more partisan. All under the false pretense of voter fraud and restoring election integrity. While ignoring the long history of voter suppression to limit participation of specific groups of people from voting to negatively influence the outcome of elections.
And federal voting rights legislation that restores critical provisions of the Voting Rights Act, ensures racial equity in elections and strengthens our democracy, can’t get an up or down vote in the U.S. Senate. The same old arguments and rules used to oppose the Civil Rights movement and racial equity are still being used today as to deny debate and consideration of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
The outcome of this year’s Congressional elections, including state and local, will determine whether people will continue to experience the dire consequences of white supremacy, racism and injustice or receive the justice they deserve and so desperately need.
On January 6, 2021 the world witnessed the truth of who we are as a nation when a few thousand predominantly White domestic terrorists, many brandishing firearms and other weapons, using Christian symbols and messages, attacked our nation’s Capital and our democracy. Having been incited by a lame-duck President, their goal was to overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential election and inflict further damage to the nation.
These acts of racial injustice and the on-going denial of what really happened that day present us with the moral imperative to take action against these growing threats to our democracy. There is no moral cause more urgent right now than protecting and advancing the right to vote and promoting democracy. Every other justice cause is impacted by whether citizens can participate fully, fairly and freely in elections.
Just like in 2020, we are responding to the present dangers and being faithful to the call of Christ to continue His ministry. The Justice & Witness Action Network is preparing to launch Faith & Democracy 2022 a unified, coordinated and strategic campaign to engage justice leaders, clergy and local churches across the Central Atlantic Conference in non-partisan civic engagement, including:
This Campaign is organized around faith and democratic principles of valuing and affirming the voice and dignity of all, especially “the least of these” among us. And, the belief that every person has a right to participate fully, freely and fairly in the democratic process without fear, intimidation, limitations or false information.
This Campaign will honor the voices of our Network members who overwhelmingly voted for our first federal issues campaign on Voting Rights Advancement & Combating Voter Suppression. The gridlock in the U.S. Senate must be overcome. And, we must not stand-by and watch the attacks on our voting rights and the ruthless subversion of our democracy.
The integrity and legitimacy of our governmental institutions are on the line, and is necessary to ensure that we have a strong, functioning democracy. A 21st century democracy that represents our growing, diverse nation is imperative. A democracy that welcomes every person’s voice and participation, no matter who they are. This is our vision. This is what we deserve.
Coming together as a people of faith to organize and fight for justice, we can ensure that our nation doesn’t become an authoritarian state and instead moves closer to a true democracy. If we do so, then I believe we will “bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Join the Faith & Democracy 2022 campaign now at https://letjusticeroll.org/join.
And maybe like Jesus, we can usher in a divine future that begins to dawn in our time.
Rev. Marvin Silver
