The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA expresses hopes and prayers that President-Elect Donald J. Trump will govern in a magnanimous, just, and collaborative manner. Mr. Trump has himself been in the past part of congregations associated with the Council. We pray the words and teachings of Jesus that he has heard will manifest themselves in him a gentle and loving spirit.
We desire for Mr. Trump to be a successful president and help move our nation forward. Yet, like many others, we have observed the presidential campaign with a sense of dismay and disbelief.
Now is the time for Mr. Trump to cease employing racist, misogynist, and xenophobic rhetoric. Great responsibilities rest on his shoulders. He will be evermost in our prayers in the weeks and months ahead.
Now is the time for Mr. Trump to drop his threats to deport millions of people from the United States, build a wall on the border with Mexico, ban the immigration of Muslims and carry out surveillance on those who are here, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and withdraw from the painstakingly crafted Paris agreement on climate change.
In the words of the great hymn, “We, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart, consecrating to Your purpose every gift that You impart.” Why do we offer our voice and heart? Because, “Still Your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread; still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.”
We ask, O Lord, for us and for Mr. Trump that You will “use the love Your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole. Called from worship to Your service, forth in Your dear name we go, to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show; hope and health, goodwill and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give, that Your servants, Lord, in freedom may Your mercy know and live.” (hymn reference: “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service.”)
Scripture is clear on the need to welcome the stranger, care for the sick, and to free the oppressed. We do not believe our nation is a disaster, on the verge of collapse, or that our best days are behind us. We believe America is a great nation already, and that if we together address environmental degradation, poverty, racism, and violence, we can be a greater nation. This will be more difficult to accomplish if the presidency is occupied by a person who demeans women and minorities and vows vengeance against those he perceives to be his enemy and seeks to jail his political opponent.
We pray that the better angels of Mr. Trump’s nature will come to the fore and that Almighty God will give him wisdom for the task that faces him.
– Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary