Why I Wore My Collar

Recently, I posted a photo of myself on Facebook. I was at the “No Kings” protest here in Pittsburgh, holding my sign and wearing my clerical collar. Someone popped OFF in the comments about how “inappropriate” it was for me to be wearing my collar to something like that and I should stick to my “job.” I chose not to engage in what was obviously going to be an unproductive and volatile exchange and simply blocked the individual and deleted the comment. Others had chosen to engage with curiosity about why I was there and why I wore my collar. Those were beautiful opportunities to have genuine conversation about concerns for suffering people in our country right now. I really love those sorts of conversations that are full of curiosity, dignity, and love for one another even in the midst of disagreement or misunderstanding. But that is not what my friendly neighborhood troll was interested in. 
This conversation is a good one. There are so many clergy out there now showing up for protests. For a while, the predominant Christian voice in our nation has been far right. With current (and alarming) events, more and more mainline moderate and progressive clergy, congregations, and denominations are starting to speak out and folks are asking “why?” I want to spend some time over the coming weeks talking about that why — including why it was important for me to wear a clerical collar and not just a witty political t-shirt or hoodie. 
Why does it matter for a spiritual leader to wear symbols of faith when engaging in public, seemingly “political” action?
For me, protests like these “No Kings” events are fundamentally about affirming democracy and freedoms like the freedom of religion and resisting Christian nationalism and authoritarianism. There is neither anything anti-American or anti-Christian about this. In fact, it’s quite American to exercise of the foundational freedoms of speech, assembly, and “religious expression”. I am not there because I “hate Trump” or “hate America.” I’m there because I believe in the value of every person who lives in this country and I want to express that Christian nationalism is not only not the only way to be Christian — it is, in fact, quite a dangerous heresy.
This is the first of a series of political blog posts. I’m going to spend the next few weeks blogging about each of the scriptures referenced on the sign I held at the protest. And if you have suggestions of passages for my next sign — let me know! Here are the references from this sign: 
“Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’” (John 12:14–15, NRSV)
“You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9, NRSV)
“So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.” (Job 5:16, NRSV)
“Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:9, NRSV)
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6, NRSV)
“Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’” (Matthew 25:45, NRSV) 
“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”” (Mark 10:21, NRSV)
So WHY did I go? As a pastor, a huge part of my job is proclamation of the Gospel. That does not just mean preaching on Sunday morning. That means leading my congregation into Gospel witness and being a voice for compassion and justice in the community. 
When I see neighbors terrorized by government agents using violent and questionable (at best) tactics, it is my calling to stand up for those who are being targeted. 
When I see the government withholding food, health care, and other vital services from those afflicted by poverty, it’s my calling to feed the hungry and care for the poor and the sick, but also to call to task the wealthy gluttons who sit on dragons’ hoards while other starve.
It is far from new for religious leaders to be involved in movements like this one. Religious leaders were central to the American Civil Rights Movement. 
In Matthew 25:31-45, Jesus stands with “the least of these.” When you are struggling to see Jesus, look into the eyes of the suffering because Jesus is standing there with them. “No Kings” is about solidarity with those who are suffering. 

I wear a clerical collar whenever I believe it’s important for those around me to know what my role in the church and in the community is. I always wear it on Sunday mornings and when leading other worship services. But I also wear it at community events where it’s important for the message of Jesus’ solidarity with the marginalized to be heard above and beyond the heretical message of Christian Nationalism. It’s also becoming increasingly important in our country to make sure that a diversity of religious voices are heard as “freedom of religion” is being warped into “freedom to be a specific type of Christian that adheres to particular rules and doesn’t cause trouble.” 
It is also important at peaceful, non-violent events for clergy to show up publicly as an advocate for these ideals. As much of a bummer as it can be to be the party-killer, people just behave better when they know a member of the clergy is around. In cases such as No Kings protests and events, the physical presence of clergy members is a powerful reminder that this is meant to be peaceful and non-violent. Not to mention, if tension DO get high, most of us are pretty well trained in de-escalation. 

The separation of church and state is an important protection not just for the people who may be endangered by a religious government, but for the church as well. We cannot sell our soul to worldly powers as Christian nationalism would have us do. And let’s be clear — that’s what this movement is about. No Kings is about countering Christian nationalism. the United States IS NOT — nor should it be — a “Christian nation.” That’s not good for the nation and it’s not good for Christians. 
I find it deeply troubling that we live in a time when dissent looks like disloyalty to both the church and the state. When championing care for the poor and the immigrant and the prisoner is seen as an affront to both the civic authorities AND as an excuse for people to accuse someone of being “a bad Christian” or a “disgrace of a pastor,” we are all in much deeper trouble as a nation than we are letting on. 

It’s also quite cheeky that the bully who chimed in on Facebook isn’t from my church. They aren’t a theologian or faith leader of any sort. As far as I know, they aren’t from my denomination and at no point did they bring up any religious or spiritual reasoning for their attack (Other than the vague accusation that I was a shameful pastor to wear my collar to the protest). One thing they would have learned — had they bothered to have a conversation — is that I was there with more than half a dozen representatives from my congregation. I was there not just as a general Christian leader, but very specifically as the pastor to those phenomenally compassionate, intelligent, conscientious, and christlike members of my congregation who went to stand up against the very sort of worldly powers that Jesus took to task time and time again. 
I am so tired of people saying they think pastors shouldn’t be political. All of scripture is political. When the government is enacting policies that hurt people. . . I as a pastor cannot morally avoid saying, “People should not be starving because billionaires are being allowed to run amok in our government.” When their conduct is unethical, immoral and repugnant, it is not unChristian to say so. I’ve heard people say that the “church should mind its own business.” Well. . . this IS our business. 
political
adjective
po·​lit·​i·​cal pə-ˈli-ti-kəl
1 a : of or relating to government, a government, or the conduct of government
b : of, relating to, or concerned with the making as distinguished from the administration of governmental policy
2 : of, relating to, involving, or involved in politics and especially party politics
3 : organized in governmental terms (political units)
4 : involving or charged or concerned with acts against a government or a political system (political prisoners)
Buckle up, because I cannot be faithful to my calling and not be “political,” or keep “politics” in my “personal time.”