Religious Community Feedback
Public Comment
“ One of the challenges for the Christian community — not just in Arlington but in a political system like we ’ re in America — is for Christian communities to not become so completely identified with any one particular political persuasion . That ’ s a very real temptation , and the Christian community should guard against it because we need to have a healthy distance to where we can be critical , thoughtful , analytical , and stay true to what we believe we ’ re supposed to be called to . The American experiment is a very unique thing , and I don ’ t know of another nation of our size who has tried this for as long as we have to really have a Democratic Republic where religious freedom is at the core of it . There really is no other example in history of it , and it is fraught with some unique challenges . So as Christian leaders , one of the things we have to be thoughtful about is committed to the cause of justice . I ’ m talking about society or politically . It ’ s a whole other thing to be completely absorbed by political party . Those are two very different things . I think the first one is righteous . I think the second one is dangerous .”
“ One thing I ’ d want the Unity Council to know is in addition to our gratitude for being included in this focus group , we would be willing to lead in this and not just follow . We ’ ve historically tried to be good supporters of what the City is doing , and by God ’ s grace , the pastors in the City have a really profound amount of influence over a lot of the people just because they come to our churches . And they listened to us share God ’ s word week-after-week . And that ’ s a critical resource for any single leader who ’ s trying to make something happen . How do you engage the masses ? How do you speak to them in a way that doesn ’ t feel political or doesn ’ t feel forced or as an outsider coming in ? Going to the leaders of the flocks and speaking with them and engaging with them and utilizing their leadership to get their congregation included in this conversation is something that we offer .”
Unity Council Report 88