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Faithful Democracy
Abstract: New web site launched. News hard to come by.
We were surprised to visit World Faith News this week and discover a new press release from the ELCA announcing the launch of FaithfulDemocracy.org.
Faithful Democracy aims to be a safe and welcoming space for people to discuss the role of faith in the public life and promote civic participation. According to Daniel Pieper, convener for Faithful Democracy, ELCA Washington Office:
FaithfulDemocracy.org is foremost a clearinghouse of resources created by our faith partners that discuss the legal guidelines on what political activity can be conducted by houses of worship during an election, provide how-to guides for people of faith wanting to get involved in nonpartisan and permissible electoral activities, and issue analysis from many different perspectives digesting issues that effect the lives of people of faith across this country and throughout the world.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson offered this endorsement:
This is a critical time for the voice of the church and our broader faith community to be heard. It is not a time for people of faith to keep their faith private, but rather to step boldly into the public square to encourage participation in our democratic process for the common good.
So far, so good, but why should any of this be surprising? Chiefly because we ordinarily get our ELCA News by email directly from the source and not from indirect channels like World Faith News. The Faithful Democracy item was posted inconspicuously on the ELCA News Blog and not accompanied by a press release or email to ELCA News subscribers. (We have to wonder how World Faith News found the item.)
If the voice of the church is to be heard in the public square, it might also be appropriate that it be heard within the church as well.
