“The people – the people – are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts – not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”

Abraham Lincoln, Speech in Kansas in December 1859

Beloved of God,

Five of us headed to Olympia together on February 8^th for Interfaith Advocacy Day, where we joined nearly 200 other folks from around the state for a series of legislative updates and the opportunity to speak directly with our legislators and/or their staff on topics close to our mission-heart: preservation of our environment, supporting affordable housing, funding for asylee support, curbing gun violence.

For much of the journey south on I-5 our ears were glued to the radio as attorneys from both sides addressed the U.S. Supreme Court on the issue of whether the State of Colorado had proper jurisdiction to prohibit D. T.’s name from appearing on the ballot.  Listening in as the nine Justices took turns peppering the two attorneys was high drama and lent added weight to what we, as citizens, had set out to do that day—raise our voices to our democratically elected representatives on topics we were deeply concerned about.

Once in Olympia our day began with a gathering at United Churches of Olympia, adjacent to the State Campus, and an invocation by Dr. Jasmit Singh, FAN Board Member and Sikh leader from Khalsa Gurmat Center in Federal Way:

“My friends, brothers and sisters, We gather here today, not bound by the walls of any one faith, but by the shared hope for a better world. We come from different spiritual paths, guided by different traditions, yet we share one common purpose: a yearning for compassion, justice, and peace in this world.”

To all that I say YES!…AND—I will add this: our common purpose must include a resurgent commitment to democratic institutions, the rule of law, and democracy itself.

Thanks to the diligent work of Faith Action Network staff and allied organizations, we were given up-to-date briefings on specific pieces of legislation we wanted to speak to our legislators about, and then we went off to do just that.  We found the staff for our 34^th District Legislators – Senator Nguyen, Representative Alvarado,  and Representative Fitzgibbon—to be uniformly welcoming, generous, and eager to receive us.  We also found ourselves in the company of friends from Fauntleroy Church UCC as well as our sister Pastor Chelsea Globe.  After meetings with legislative staff, we went ascended to the Gallery of the State House to watch legislators do their thing—vote yay or nay on bills that have been marshalled through the legislative process during this year’s shortened session.  We were present to see one of the bills we had championed (mental health services support) pass with strong bipartisan support.

So much is at stake in the caucuses, primaries, and general election this year.  So much is at stake in the issues that have and will come before Appeals Courts and the Supreme Court.  Non-participation in our democracy is not an option if we want our democracy to continue.  As citizens of this country and citizens of God’s Kingdom we are called to be responsive and responsible participants in the process.  Democracy must not become a spectator sport.  While our specific opinions on particular legislation and policy will differ, we must stand united in our support of the democratic process and equal access to the voting booth, as well as in our stalwart opposition to any person, organization, or ideology that would seek to overturn or compromise the Constitution and our Democratic system of government.

With you on the Way,

Pastor Erik