On Nov. 3, exactly one year before the 2020 national election, Christians from a wide range of theological and political views will kick off a year of activities for the initiative Golden Rule 2020: A Call for Dignity and Respect in Politics.
Through this initiative, individuals and congregations are asked to affirm the use of spiritual principles in public life, to help heal political divisions through prayer and to promote the use of Jesus’ teachings, especially the Golden Rule, in political discussions and election activities.
To help launch Golden Rule 2020, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and other Christian faith leaders have signed a statement of support. The leaders emphasize that “churches have an important role to play in helping to heal America, and we hope and pray that local congregations will be active in efforts to increase understanding and bridge divisions in our country between now and the 2020 election.”
The initiative was prompted by a convening of faith leaders earlier this year by the National Institute for Civil Discourse.
Statement of Support for Golden Rule 2020
We are Christians with different theological and political views who have come together to express concern about the polarization and incivility that is tearing our country apart. We are also deeply troubled by the prospect of an angry and hateful political campaign season in 2020 that will further divide us as a nation.
We believe that we can find guidance through this national dilemma in the teachings of Jesus. In particular, we believe that Jesus’ command to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” should be taken seriously by Christians who engage in political activity. We also believe that if enough people follow this “Golden Rule” principle, it will help generate the respect and civility we so desperately need in our country.
Churches have an important role to play in helping to heal America, and we hope and pray that local congregations will be active in efforts to increase understanding and bridge divisions in our country between now and the 2020 election. To this end, we encourage Christians of different political views to come together on Sunday, November 3, 2019—exactly one year before the 2020 election—to participate in Golden Rule 2020: A Call for Dignity and Respect in Politics. On that day, we invite congregations and individuals to do two things: 1) pray for the healing of the divisions in our country, and 2) promote the use of the Golden Rule in our own political discussions and election activities in 2020.
Denominational and Organizational Leaders Supporting Golden Rule 2020 include:
- Paul Baxley—Executive Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
- Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio—Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Galen Carey—Vice President, Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals
- Most Rev. Michael B. Curry—Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
- Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane—Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Elizabeth Eaton—Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Curtiss DeYoung—Chief Executive Officer, Minnesota Council of Churches
- Mark Ford—Co-founder and Director of Church Relations, Love Akron Network
- Sharlee Mullins Glenn—Founder, Mormon Women for Ethical Government
- Don Golden—Executive Director, Red Letter Christians
- Jimmie Hawkins—Director, Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Shirley Hoogstra—President, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
- Gabriel Salguero—President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition
- Lee Spitzer—General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA
- Sandy Sorenson—Director of Washington Office, United Church of Christ
- Ed Stetzer—Executive Director, Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, Wheaton College
