I am an American
N.C. pastor’s service fosters reconciliation
Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about the American profiled here and more average Americans doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com.
What does it mean to you to be an American?
For me, being an American is being part of something that is larger than an individual or even a national interest; it’s being part of a larger experiment of democracy. One where even in a country where the majority of the people voted for one candidate, the other candidate who has been declared the winner by our democratic process is going to peacefully transition into power. That’s rare and maybe even unprecedented around the world.
What moment touched and motivated you to take part in this effort?
There wasn’t any one specific event or statement or altercation that motivated us having this service. But ... as the election season wore on and things became more and more vitriolic and tense and heated, and more and more families were being at odds with one another because of the election options, it seemed like it was even more appropriate to have a time when we could come together and pray and share communion and really remember what it is that unites us.
What gives you hope?
First and foremost, as a Christian and as a pastor, my hope is in Jesus Christ. ... But what gives me hope in the immediate, and perhaps in a concrete way, is the ways in which I’ve seen members of my congregation who are on diametrically opposed ends of the political spectrum really respect and support one another.
What did you hope to accomplish with that effort?
I think we were successful in accomplishing the beginning of dialogue and an opportunity for people to look around and find some points of unity. I hope that this will be a stepping-off point for my congregation and for this community. ... I’d like to explore the possibility of having some public dialogue with a member of the Muslim faith, maybe in concert with a member of the Jewish community. I’ve talked with another pastor about doing a reconciliation pilgrimage where we travel to different sites ... and just put ourselves in places where those we may not normally interact with live.