March 15, 2016

This week several thousand people gathered in Hickory on the campus of Lenoir Rhyne University, an ELCA university, to make their voices heard. Donald Trump was holding a town hall meeting in P. E. Monroe Auditorium. Many universities and colleges invite candidates to come and speak on their campuses. Trump was the only candidate that accepted the invitation to Lenoir Rhyne.

When his decision to come was made known to our Bishop Tim Smith on Friday, he decided that we would respond. Lenoir Rhyne is our Lutheran school in North Carolina and while we would allow a candidate to speak, we would not remain silent about the values we hold as Christians.

The word quickly spread on Facebook through the clergy community and many responded that they would be there to proclaim God’s justice, mercy, love, and grace. I was one of about one hundred Lutheran clergy and another one hundred church members and laity who braved the early morning fog to stand as peaceful demonstrators proclaiming the love of God.

People waiting to get into the auditorium had to get tickets and the line began forming around the campus before sunrise. The auditorium seats 1400 people but 5000 tickets were given out. This guaranteed that many would not get in and would be left standing outside of the rally. Add the fog delay to this and you had all these people standing in two lines across from each other for hours.

The lines were generally quiet, but occasionally people with different viewpoints shouted at each other. What the Lutherans (and others by the chapel) did was sing hymns, everything from “A Mighty Fortress” to “Jesus Loves Me.” This went on for over four hours. We also held signs offering messages from scripture such as Micah 6:8 (Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.) Others said things like “Build bridges not walls.”

At the end of the day, a service of healing and reconciliation was held in the chapel and open to all. It was a chance to worship, pray, and sing together as we lifted up to God a cry for healing in our divided land.

Since Monday photos, messages, and reflections have filled Facebook and other social media. As I look back on the day, I am so glad I participated and so glad our Bishop Tim Smith was bold enough to declare God’s presence in the midst of differing views, while inviting us to remember that God loves all his children and calls us to love and care for all of them too. It made me proud to be a North Carolina Lutheran.

Peace,

Pastor Louise