Episcopalians have been asked by the Presiding Bishop to “engage in God’s mission.” An important part of this call includes civic participation or, simply put, exercising our right and duty to vote. Episcopalians are called to civic action through their baptismal covenant vow — “to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.”
Former Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning once said, “We [Episcopalians] must bring the insights and ways of our faith, of the kingdom, to our cultural and political life.” Voter participation further ensures that our faith-filled reasoning behind public policies joins our political life. The Episcopal Church not only preaches the necessity of participating in the civic life of our communities and nation, but it has acted to include the voice of Episcopalians in public dialogue.
The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations in Washington, DC speaks eloquently to the great issues facing us — upholding human justice, fighting hunger throughout the world, promoting economic justice and peace and advancing environmental protection. The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN), through its members nationwide, encourages us to participate fully in the public square. As part of the Church’s commitment to civic participation, many states now have individual Episcopal Public Policy Networks. New York’s EPPN was the first to be established, back in 1996.
All too often, church members act as if there should be no connection between religion and public life. This has never been the classic Anglican point of view. The Episcopal Church began, through its foundation in the English church experience, as a political event. Deep with the ethos of being an Episcopalian is an appreciation for the separate, yet related role of Church and State.
The Book of Common Prayer makes clear the central role of Scripture in shaping our sense of who we are and what kind of society we live in. The Book of Common Prayer speaks to the heart as it draws worshippers to the mystery of God, and it nurtures a civic conscience through prayers for the common good. Church should not be isolated from the public square, for the Church is profoundly shaped by and concerned about the well being of our society.
In every liturgy we pray for “those in positions of authority and public trust,” as well as for “justice and peace” and “the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed and those in prison.” It is the very essence of the Anglican experience to view the holy and public as related. The church is not a retreat from the public square. Rather, it provides the context in which public life takes shape and meaning.
The Church and its faithful have a special mandate to speak in the public arena. We may not always agree on a specific issue. Indeed, this tension is natural to a Church that welcomes the voice of reasoned argument. It is part of our Anglican heritage that we can agree to differ on tough issues facing society and still gather together in communion. It is not the Church’s job to do the work of legislating, but it is the Church’s job to make sure that legislators hear our voices and our concerns.
The most obvious way we can let our public officials hear us is by voting. If we remain disengaged from the political process, if we become cynical about the power of our vote, we betray our nation. This is especially true today. We live in uncertain times, and those we elect to office are faced with enormous burdens and challenges. They need all the help we can give them. If we walk away from our responsibility, if our elected officials do not hear our voices, we have failed them — and ourselves. Think about the issues confronting public officials — war and peace, homelessness, poverty, immigration, criminal justice, the environment — the list goes on.
In 2004, we will be electing a president and a Congress as well as state legislators and local government officials. Voting participation in this country has been diminishing year by year, election by election. We all have the opportunity to regain our voice and be heard. It’s not hard to do. It doesn’t take a lot of time. Just make sure that you exercise the most precious right you have as an American — vote!

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