My Doubters of Great Faith,
We find ourselves on the horns of another national holiday, Labor Day, the veritable conclusion to the trilogy of summer’s secular holiday Trinity.
This Labor Day finds us all in a place that feels in many ways so different than Labor Days past. The things upon which we reflect this year are not the adventure-filled excursions, time away with family and friends, and the joyful returns, recanting stories of the road. Those things were much fewer and farther between, if at all this year.
Instead, themes of this year’s reflection all seem to revolve around strife, division, and “apart-ness.” A virus necessitates much of the physical separateness. Deeper wounds of ongoing racial injustice are exacerbated by COVID-19, and by political and economic responses to and around the pandemic.
But there is something we as Christians can, should, and must do, as a part of our Christian obligation and that is, as Bishop Curry says, to vote, and to help make it possible for others to vote. And it is not too early to begin to think about how we will plan our strategy to #VoteFaithfully. In the face of COVID-19, and all the other issues that confront us, each of us needs to have a thoughtfully prepared plan in place of how we will safely proceed through the voting process, from start to finish, and help enlighten the path for others.
There are many tools out there to help accomplish this process. Our very own Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations has a great on-line website to help walk individuals in any location through the process! (https://episcopalchurch.org/files/vote_faithfully_2020_election_toolkit_updated.pdf)
There are links within the site to take you to voter registration, early voting, poll locations, etc.
The deadline for voter registration, either on-line, mail, or in person, is Monday, October 5. You can also check on-line to see if you are registered to vote.
In Texas, only those over 65 or with special needs or who will be absent on voting day may vote via mail, and those ballots must be requested in advance.
Early in-person voting has been extended from October 13 – October 30, 7 am – 7 pm. (This is the BEST way to avoid long lines and the potential of disease if you cannot vote by mail!)
Regular voting is Tuesday, November 3.
Research your candidates. Be an informed voter. Know who is on your ballot, and vote responsibly for the candidates who represent your views and your values.
If you can, volunteer to work a polling location, or give rides to those who cannot get transportation to the polls. St. Thomas members have a long and rich history of involvement in voter registration and poll-working (Kathy Carson, Mtr. Virginia Holleman, etc.). Doubter Bryan Long will be serving November 3 as an Election Judge at the Royal Lane Baptist Church polling station (10716 Marsh Lane), and is seeking Election Clerks to help supervise that location. If you are able to help, please contact him for more information (214.212.0694, bryanlongdal@yahoo.com). This is a great way to get involved and help make sure all voting is fair, honest, and equitable.
Voting is much more difficult in the age of COVID-19, but it is also more necessary than ever. The freedoms that we enjoy, and maybe even take for granted, are anything but free. They were hard-won by those who went before us, and they are rights that are still not afforded to everyone, and we must exercise our right to insure that all people are extended those very same rights.
At the end of the day, I want us all to be able to say, “I am an Episcopalian, and I #VotedFaithfully!”
Yours as always,
Fr. Christopher+
