Being the Miracle Together
Updated: Sep 4
This summer, with heaviness in my heart, I’ve been remembering a poem entitled, “Fragments” by Pastor Steve Garnaas-Holmes. The opening lines read:
Times are hard. News is bad. The need is huge.
Climate, politics, racism, refugees, violence—
it can seem overwhelming. What can one person do?
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.
But what are they among so many people?” (John 6:9)
Then in mid-August I attended a deeply motivating Democracy Defense clergy training in Minneapolis. This training was hosted by Faith in Us, the multifaith group of clergy who led the powerful, peaceful response to the violent and deadly ICE surge in Minneapolis last winter. Faith in Us is now offering their strategy to the country by organizing a national multifaith clergy cohort to fight for a free and fair election in November. More than 150 Muslim, Jewish, and Christian clergy attended this powerful in-person training.
As Faith in Us says, “the moral authority this moment demands has always lived in faith communities. When a pastor, a rabbi, or imam stands at a microphone and names what is happening, it lands differently than when a politician does. That authority is earned, not given. And it is needed now.”
And, it is not new. Faith communities have played key roles in the struggle for a true and just democracy in this country throughout our history: in the abolition of slavery, the Reconstruction era, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, and the farmworkers movement.
We are being called again.
With regard to ensuring a free and fair election in November, Faith in Us has identified key organizing states and cities: In “Democracy Defense States” (Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin), clergy will offer poll chaplaincy and vote vigil teams, and lead public actions decrying election intervention, if needed. In “Strategic Offense Cities” (Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco/Bay Area, Seattle, and D.C.), clergy will lead public actions and/or economic disruption between November and January, if necessary.
Will you please join me in this work? There are two Faith in Us national clergy training calls happening next week! Please spread the word among your religious networks. Cast your nets widely in Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and other religious communities. The more clergy and the deeper the multifaith representation, the more powerful our witness will be.
Faith in Us Clergy Training #1
Tuesday, September 8, 2-4 pm CST / 3-5 pm EST
Faith in Us Clergy Training #2
Thursday, Sept. 10, 11am - 1 pm CST / 12-2 pm EST
I left Minneapolis feeling inspired and uplifted, thinking again about Pastor Steve’s poem. But now I remembered the rest of the verse:
There is no answer, no magic power, no silver bullet.
There is no hero, no savior, no messiah.
Only your willingness, and the synergy of God.
From the fragments of the five barley loaves,
left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. (John 6:13)
Together, with God’s love in our hearts, may we be like the miracle of the loaves and fishes: more than enough to meet this moment of need. Amen.
Rev. Pat Plude
Minister of Music, Arts & Formation
First Mennonite Church of San Francisco
If you are interested in learning more about this organizing work, please feel free to contact me! My email is patfmcsf@plude.com.
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