Pew Research Center just
released a poll of what percentage members of each denomination belong to which
political party. The closest to the “middle” are the American Baptists, who are
41% Republican, 42% Democrat, and 16% Independent.
What are our United Methodist numbers?
(Quick, before you keep reading, what do you think our
numbers are? Okay, now you can keep reading.)
We are 54% Republican, 35% Democrat, and 11% Independent.
Do you find those numbers surprising? My hunch is that you’re
not surprised if you’re a Republican, because you assume everyone is like you.
My hunch is also that you’re surprised if you’re a Democrat, because you assume
that everyone is like you. Independents probably aren’t surprised at much of
anything related to politics.
It is natural to assume that people that we like would vote
like us. After all, if you’re cool enough to be friends, then you’re cool
enough to vote the same way, right?
Not so much, particularly in church. In fact, if you’re
sitting in a United Methodist church, then you’re likely to be sitting next to someone
who fills in a different oval on Election Day, statistically speaking. Just
because we pray together doesn’t mean we vote together.
Keep this info in mind in the coming months. Just today, I received
a very partisan mass email from a church member, and I took the time to reply,
asking not to get future political emails. I’ve made that request to others
before, and I’m sure I will do it again. Just because we pray together doesn’t mean we
vote together. (Or maybe we do. Just don't send me mass emails about it.)
Instead, I focus on the reverse: Just because we don’t vote
together doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray together. In fact, in this era, we need
to pray together more than ever. Whatever flavor church you choose, whatever
candidate you support, let’s pray together. Beyond any candidates or any political parties, we find our unity and our hope when
we pray. Together.
