Political discourse in the Episcopal Church

The following is an extract from a discussion I had on an Episcopal Church web site discussing political civility.

Yes, I am a conservative and an Episcopalian. It isn’t easy to be such. What is frustrating is that many within the ECUSA frame political debate within their version of morality and assume that view is shared by all. This is what stifles debate. When bishops, clergy and leaders of the denomination are unified that the only way to uphold baptismal vows is to adopt a certain political position, how can there be dissent? How can there be discourse? Disagreement about public policy becomes heresy.

Even as I write this, I am reluctant to even bring up specific political topics. From immigration to minimum wage to gun control and climate change, the liberals have browbeat conservatives into silence in the Church. This is done not by arguing the economic impacts or societal costs but rather, by using the bible and baptismal vows as a cudgel. Once that club is wielded, many of us are reluctant to defend our position. I don’t feel any desire to explain how my faith in my Redeemer is consistent with my belief in certain economic mechanisms that create stronger societies. It is safer to remain silent.

As a conservative, I don’t ignore Jesus’s words in Matthew 25:31-46 and I don’t appreciate the implication that I do. In fact, this is an excellent example of how discourse gets sidetracked when scripture is brought into the political arena. How does a government improve the lives of people? Is that any different from how the Church does it? Is it any different than how a parish or an individual does it? I would argue that it is very different. Each institutional level has unique responsibilities and attempts to combine those is a dangerous path. Does that make me a heretic? Is that un-Christian?

See what just happened there? I had to defend my belief in Jesus’s words in order to have a discussion about politics. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable that is? That is why conservatives have left this Church in such large numbers. Those of us who remain are marginalized and question why we are still here.