
Election Hospitality
Members of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas, set up a hospitality tent outside a neighborhood poll station to serve water, snacks and a resting place on Nov. 3. (Facebook photo courtesy of St. Stephen UMC)
A United Methodist Insight Column
We’ve made it to Election Day for the United States of America. United Methodists are supporting the elections by serving as polling places, elections officials and providing hospitality to what are expected to be long lines of voters. In addition, hundreds of United Methodists have been praying for the elections for weeks, and prayer vigils intensified over the weekend.
We may not know the election results for days or even weeks, but we know that civic participation is at the highest level it has been in decades. Personally, I’ve been praying that love and justice will prevail in voters’ choices. Whatever happens, we know that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Louisiana suffers third hurricane this year
Our friends in Louisiana have been hard-hit this year by tropical storms. Greg Hilburn of the Monroe (La.) News-Star writes: “Louisiana has been a punching bag during the 2020 hurricane season, whether taking a glancing blow from Tropical Storm Cristobal in June, a whiff from Hurricane Marco in August, a haymaker from Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27 and a late-round blow from Hurricane Delta …. Two other storms — Hurricane Sally and Tropical Storm Beta — also threatened Louisiana before making landfall at Gulf Coast neighbors Alabama and Texas, respectively.”
Hurricane Zeta delivered a third direct blow to Louisiana on Oct. 28, landing near Cocodrie, La., and then sweeping over New Orleans with strong winds and high storm surge.
Louisiana Conference communications coordinator Todd Rossnagel has a report on the conference website. While some United Methodist volunteers have been on-site around Lake Charles, La., which took two storm strikes, what the conference needs most are donations. Give online here: www.la-umc.org/relief
Coronavirus pandemic response underreported
The latest discouraging report around the coronavirus pandemic came this week via National Public Radio: “Internal Documents Reveal COVID-19 Hospitalization Data The Government Keeps Hidden.” According to the report, “Knowing which hospitals in which communities are reaching capacity could be key to an effective response to the growing crisis. That information is gathered by the federal government — but not shared openly with the public.”
The extensive report includes interactive charts and graphs showing where hospitals are at or near capacity along with comparisons of how local public health policies, such as mandating face masks, impact the incidence of COVID-19 infections. There isn’t much we church folk can do directly with the information, but reading NPR’s article will make us all better informed about the scope of the ongoing pandemic.
By the way, I got the good news this morning from Dallas' Parkland Hospital that my coronavirus test was negative. Much relief in our household, along with many prayers for those who are infected and suffering, plus the health care workers tending them.
Media Mentions as of Nov. 2, 2020
As Election Day looms, Christian pastors make bold political appeals – Religion News Service
Most conservative Christians support Trump. Will they help him win again? – The New York Times*
There are evangelicals who stand against Trump. I’m one of them – The New York Times*
This election, Black churches face challenges getting ‘souls to the polls’ – The Wall Street Journal*
Preaching or avoiding politics, conservative churches walk a delicate line – The New York Times*
More conservative Supreme Court faces major dispute pitting religious freedom against LGBTQ rights – USA Today
God, masks and Trump: What a coronavirus outbreak at a California church says about the election – Los Angeles Times*
Churches in Crofton come together to renew Black Lives Matter banner – Capital Gazette
Religious congregations respond during COVID-19 – Religion News Service
For whom the bell tolls: COVID-19 deaths recalled with church bell, vigils, services – Religion News Service
Not Our Faith, Christians Against Trumpism & Political Extremism spend $250000 ad buy to reach – Religion News Service
Pastors reveal emotional toll of COVID-19 – United Methodist News Service
Fraught election puts faith leaders through a political test – Longview News-Journal
*Paid subscription required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.