Faithful Christian Citizen Classes Start

Faithful Christian Citizen Classes Start

St. Mary the Protectress Orthodox Church will start its election year program entitled Faithful Christian Citizenship on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at 5:30 pm, and Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 12:30 pm. In any election, Christian citizens choose between very imperfect options. For that reason it is always important to examine, prayerfully and theologically, what is at stake. Christians need as best they can, seek to confess Christ even in their political lives. Christians have a moral and civil responsibility to participate in the political life of society by prayerfully measuring the proposed policies of all candidates against Christian ethics and values. Christina values should inform our political decisions.
The program is non-denominational and people of all faiths are invited. The program is in two parts. The first part will explore Christians and Politics and the second Christians and Democracy. The entire program will last eight weeks. It is a Bible study looking to provide participates with the biblical foundation to examine all political parties and all candidates and all issues and evaluate them on the basis of Christ’s teaching.
Prayer will proceed all the sessions. The Wednesday session at 12:30 pm will follow the parish’s regular 12:00 noon Prayer service for Peace and Healing. And the Saturday session at 5:30 pm will follow the 5:00 pm Vespers Service. The public is invite to both the prayer services and Faithful Christian Citizenship programs. The program is free of charge.
According the Father Theodosius Walker, pastor of St. Mary’s, the contributions of people of faith to the struggle for social justice, civil rights, and peace are great. Father Theodosius reminds Christians that Jesus speaks a great deal about lifting up the poor, and helping our fellow brothers and sister, but Jesus does not say one word about cutting capital gains taxes. Father Theodosius challenges all Christians to ask each other, “Since when did believing in God and having moral values make you pro-war, pro-rich, and pro-Republican? And since when did promoting and pursuing a progressive social agenda with a concern for economic security, health care, and educational opportunities mean you had to put faith in God aside? “ He also stated that, “God is not a Republican nor a Democrat. And it is time for all people of faith to discover where all candidates stated on all issues.”