This weekend, I spent some time in the Texas Hill Country at the MoRanch Women’s Conference, talking with my (mostly) Presbyterian sisters about how people of faith can be effective advocates for justice in the current political climate. It was amazing to be surrounded by women from all over Texas from diverse political climates and cultural contexts, united in their concerns and hopes for our state.
My workshop, “People of Faith Working for Justice,” drew an unusually large audience, most of whom expressed either “some” or “a lot” of anxiety about the state of our democracy. After grounding ourselves in some basic concepts of faithful advocacy and justice, we talked about my three favorite questions: Where are we? Where do we want to go? & How do we get there?
Where are we?
Women said they perceive the members of their local communities; their fellow Texans; and their fellow Americans to be sad; angry; concerned; indecisive; and defensive. They said people are “not talking” and “not able to acknowledge common truths.” I was especially interested in the characterization that we are “separated” and also “at each other’s throats,” which put me in mind of Monya Stubbs’ description of “fighting to make up” versus “fighting to break up.”
Where do we want to go?
The women said they are looking for acceptance; consensus; agreement; reciprocity; tolerance; collaboration; and civility. We had an interesting minute acknowledging that we all also want our own way—suggesting that collaboration and consensus require self-discipline.
How do we get there?
I asked participants to name one thing they would need to be able to help us move forward from our current polarized misery. They named information; strategy; messaging; and validation. We also talked about the need to consider the costs of civic engagement, which could include strained relationships and divisions within congregations, and how these costs already are ongoing for some of the women. We discussed how Texas Impact can support the work of individuals and congregations. I’m excited for the conversations we had, and I’m looking forward to working with these strong women who want to help our state live into a diverse, abundant future.
Early in my career at Texas Impact, I spoke at a congregation where one of the members stood up two minutes into my talk and declared that politics has no place in the church. When I asked the women I was with this weekend why it might be important for people of faith to concern themselves with public policy, they were surprised that we even needed to ask that question. “Love your neighbor,” one of them called out, and we moved on.
The main conference speaker, Sarah Bessey, said in her keynote that we need a “season of unclenched hands.” That’s certainly true for all of us in our personal existences, we who have been tense and taut and distraught during the traumas of the past couple of years. I wonder if we can also think of unclenching our hands in public: relaxing our grip, unballing our fists, and extending grace and peace to each other. Our communities need us to try.