From Bishop Miller: October 2026

In the rite of Holy Baptism for children, parents and sponsors promise to live with and teach their children in such a way that they “learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for others and the world God has made, and work for justice and peace.” These charges are affirmed in the rite of confirmation in which the candidates state their intention “to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.”

As Election Day nears in this country, I think of those baptismal promises, especially our commitment to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. So much rhetoric in our country’s politics seeks to divide us from one another, whereas God calls us to seek reconciliation. We are told to fear those who hold different beliefs and different political positions, but Jesus says, “Peace.” Campaign ads play on our desire for comfort, but Jesus tells us to “take up your cross and follow me.”

If there is fear, there cannot be justice. In baptism we are committed to the cause of peace—the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. The peace of God brings about justice because it leads to humility and love for one another. This is a justice not brought about by force of arms but through compassion and mercy. To bring about this peace, we give of ourselves, taking up our cross for the sake of our neighbor, just as Jesus gave himself for all of creation.

As Lutherans we understand that we participate in our society, bringing our whole selves, including our faith. When we vote, we should remember those promises made at baptism and confirmation. Because of our membership in the ELCA, we do not do this work alone. In 2025, our church adopted “Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the well-being of all”, one of several teaching documents to help us live out those promises. Faith and Civic Life especially addresses how we Lutherans interact with government. We can also find help through the ELCA Witness in Society office and Lutheran Advocacy Ministries in Pennsylvania (LAMPA). Use the links below to access these ministry sites.

I encourage all our members to register and vote in the upcoming elections, remembering our commitment to “strive for justice and peace in all the earth.”

LAMPA: www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/

ELCA Witness in Society: www.elca.org/how-we-serve/elca-in-society/witness-in-society