Community of Christ President Stephan M. Veazey joined with 21 other religious leaders from the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA on Friday in issuing a call for President Donald J. Trump to resign immediately. If President Trump fails to do so, the religious leaders call first on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office (although a temporary action, it would last at least until President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20). As a last resort Congress should impeach the President in the House of Representatives and convict him in the Senate.
The faith leaders were acting as individuals who lead the member denominations in the NCC. This latest call came a day after another statement decrying mob violence at the U.S. Capitol. That statement began by quoting scripture: “See how they conceive evil, and are pregnant with mischief, and bring forth lies. They make a pit, digging it out, and fall into the hole that they have made. Their mischief returns upon their own heads, and on their own heads their violence descends” (Psalm 7:14-16 NRSV).
Both statements were posted on the NCC website. Here is the full statement regarding President Donald J. Trump:
Our faith instructs us to take seriously positions of leadership, not to lead others astray and to be careful about what we say and do. In Philippians 2:3-4 we are taught to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”
President Donald J. Trump’s actions and words have endangered the security of the country and its institutions of government by inciting a violent, deadly, seditious mob attack at the U.S. Capitol. His words and actions have placed the lives of the people he is supposed to serve in grave danger to advance his own interests. Further, he not only failed to stop or condemn the attack after the Capitol had been stormed but instead encouraged the mob by calling them patriots. This domestic terrorist attack resulted in at least five deaths, including a Capitol Police Officer, and more than a dozen police officers injured. The desecration of the Capitol building was also disgraceful and reprehensible.
For the good of the nation, so that we might end the current horror and prepare the way for binding up the nation’s wounds, we, as leaders of the member communions of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC), believe the time has come for the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, to resign his position immediately. If he is unwilling to resign, we urge you to exercise the options provided by our democratic system.
In addition, we recognize the need to hold responsible not only those who invaded the Capitol, but also those who supported and/or promoted the President’s false claims about the election, or made their own false accusations.
We grieve for our country at this difficult time and continue to pray for the safety and security, and ultimately the healing of our nation. Holding those who have abused their power and participated in these immoral and tragic actions accountable, in particular the President of the United States, is one step toward healing.
Jim Winkler, General Secretary and President, National Council of Churches
Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ and Chair, National Council of Churches Governing Board
Bishop W. Darin Moore, Presiding Bishop, AME Zion Church and Immediate Past Chair, National Council of Churches
Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Vice Chair, National Council of Churches
Rev. Teresa Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. Néstor Gómez, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Paula Clayton Dempsey, Director of Partnership Relations, Alliance of Baptists
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Bishop Sally Dyck, Ecumenical Officer of the Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst, Ecumenical Staff Officer, The United Methodist Church
Rev. Eddy Alemán, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America
Rev. Jane Siebert, President, Swedenborgian Church of North America
His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate, The Armenian Church, Eastern Diocese of America
Dr. Kimberly Brooks, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Richard Tafel, Swedenborgian Church
Carole Collins, Director of Operation, Alliance of Baptists
Reverend Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Progressive National Baptist Convention
Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chair, Conference of National Black Churches
Stephen M. Veazey, President (Head of Communion), Community of Christ
His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod, Assyrian Church of the East
Bishop Francis Krebs, Presiding Bishop, Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Rev. Dr. James Herbert Nelson II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Community of Christ (which until 2001 was known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or RLDS; those identifiers were retained for legal reasons) is headquartered in Independence, Missouri. For more than a decade it has been a full member of the NCC.
Consideration:
The leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not issued anything similar to this letter. Do you think the First Presidency should, and if so, what might that statement say?
Wheat & Tares 
They join the company of Franklin Graham. UGH!!!!!
The LDS Church, with its claim to patriotism, should take stand with a public declaration denouncing his lust for power. But they wont, because they are too Republican.
There is nothing at all at the LDS Newsroom and no press release about the Capitol events.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports (link below) that LDS leaders declined to comment, but that they did point to Pres. Oaks’ October 2020 General Conference talk. In that talk, Oaks said, “We peacefully accept the results of elections. We will not participate in the violence threatened by those disappointed with the outcome.” He should have added: In particular, don’t invade and occupy the US Capitol building, don’t kill police officers or threaten government officials, and especially don’t parade around in the crowd carrying a replica of Captain Moroni’s Title of Liberty banner. You need to really spell things out for rule-focused Mormons or they won’t get it.
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/01/06/reaction-capitol-assault/
The constitution hung by a thread on Wednesday. More than half the elders of the church were not defending it, but supported its downfall. Faith promoting story about us being the good guys destroyed. Luckily others stood up for truth and right. Mitt is standing up for right too.
Can you have a democracy where one party does not accept the result of elections? No.
It appears a large proportion of members believe trumps conspiracy theories, over the institutions of American government. They believe lies. This is a moral problem.
The church needs to condemn, or by their silence they are complicit. It may be too late already.
I don’t look to the Church for direction on politics and public policy in general and I definitely wouldn’t look to see what they say about specific leaders were they to do so. I’m glad they don’t. As for these other religious organizations, I care even less about their opinions. They should stick to the Bible or whatever.
I’m really confused by the lack of communication from the FP to the American members of the church regarding what went down on Wednesday. Are they afraid of offending the many members who are diehard Trumpies? Do they not care how badly the Church looks when stories circulate in the national and international media about the disgusting way Mitt Romney was treated at the SL airport and on the flight to Washington, D.C. by other church members or that the guy shown hanging right above Nancy Pelosi’s chair in the House chamber and spouting obscenities about her is a returned missionary from Idaho? Here in Utah Romney and my Congressional representative John Curtis have been called every vile and obscene name because they had the courage to take a principled stand when the electoral college business was being taken care of. Two of our other representatives who are also members of the church were part of the pro-Trump-“our votes were stolen” contingency, and they’ve been treated like they’re the most honorable citizens of the state of Utah. I hope that Ezra Taft Benson is watching this mess from wherever he is. He is the principle reason that many American members of the church are so thoroughly brainwashed into believing that Republicanism is the equivalent to complete and total righteousness. Throw in a leadership that demands unquestioning fealty, leader worship and total obedience regardless of whether or not their demands and pronouncements are in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the New Testament and elsewhere, and you have the perfect preparation for people to get involved in specious ideologies, unquestioning adoration and loyalty to terrible people in power plus bizarre conspiracy theories. These people have not been taught or encouraged to think for themselves, so they are more easily led down the primrose path. I fear for the church if it continues on the path it is on because it will lose good people that have so much to offer it but are made to feel unwelcome because they feel a need and a sacred duty to use their minds that God blessed them with to actually study out, think on and be prayerful about the gospel and how best to live it not only for their own benefit but to use it to bless, uplift and edify those around them and society in general.
I think Pres. Nelson’s silence is causing us to wonder why and think about the role we personally played in a controversy that no longer is. Sometimes when a parent or other authority is silent it conveys deep disappointment and makes you think about what you did that was so wrong that there are no words. He’s likely praying for us to know what to do or say because the Lord views this as major situation of our own (un)doing.
p.s. He surely knows we’re waiting, hoping to hear something. Anything.
p.p.s.And he would have seen and be grieved that Moroni’s words were used on a banner , held up high for all the world to see by deluded people who once knew something like this was terribly wrong– and now thy don’t.
Its hard not to interpret the FP unwillingness to make a direct statement as cowardice and a failure to show meaningful moral leadership. Sure, you can point to the DHO statement from conference, but why not reference it in a direct statement from the FP condemning the specific attack? Why not direct local leaders to carry out church discipline for any member who was involved in Wednesday’s attack and warn members that continuing to spread false claims about election fraud or being involved in armed attacks against democratically-elected governments will subject them to church discipline? After four years of mostly pandering to Trump and given that the majority of Mountain West Mormons back Trump and his fraudulent claims, its hard not to believe that the reluctance to make a real statement comes from a preference by many in the Q15 for Trump to remain as President despite his loss. Or at least because they recognize that so many of the US local leaders support Trump’s attempts to overthrow the elections that they are afraid those leaders will stop carrying out other church edicts if they make a strong statement condemning conspiracy promoters and insurrectionists.
Boyd Matheson had a great opinion piece in Deseret News – the FP could just do a copy and paste. Frankly, I’m disappointed and angry that they haven’t made a statement and I’m not in the US. Perhaps they’re worried about bleeding more membership? Any membership they’d bleed from the conspiracy and election steal followers wouldn’t be such a bad thing?
Most here know that I usually have an explanation for why the Q15 acts contrary to expectation (love it or hate it, I usually have one). Here, I have absolutely, utterly no explanation. I am equally dumbfounded by the bloggernacle’s relative quiet. What gives?
Part of me is genuinely afraid that the Church is staying quiet on the off chance that further violence allows a fascist Trump regime to stay in power (the same way we were careful not to offend the Nazis).
To paraphrase Mitt Romney (wow those words taste awful!): Has the desire to be liked by those in power so eclipsed principle?
mez, I suspect the antipathy to your first couple statements reflects the fact that you hit a nerve.
I’m with you in suspecting that a planeful of people harassing Mitt Romney was likely Mormons headed to shame and disgrace. We know that someone cosplaying as Moroni was a Mormon and that the person photoed repelling onto the Senate floor was a returned missionary. Other flags and signs that reflect Mormon culture were evident in the insurrectionist crowd. And letters to the Deseret News continue to support Trump and the lies he’s used to incite the riot.
People here just don’t want to own it.
My comment disappeared – maybe it was something as simple as not entering my email correctly or perhaps my emotions came through too strongly? So a new comment:
I found myself feeling a little bit nostalgic for Pres. Hinkley last night and thinking surely his presidency would have made an appropriate statement? Are the current ones afraid of bleeding more membership if they did make a statement? It doesn’t need to be anything partisan but can address the inappropriate behaviour of those that stormed the government buildings and how we as a people should move forward. (Not speaking as an American here btw) I’m very disappointed but this hasn’t been the first time lately.
Amen to a poor wagering man of grief.
If this failed coup is an entr’acte to civil
war (let’s pray it’s not), the church’s behavior in the years leading up to and through the Civil War is likely going to be a pattern for the brethren now. The saints mostly ignored it, struggling to survive in their mountain niches- far outside the country. They created a Swiss-like perch of neutrality and sanctimoniously looked down on both the North and the South. The beleaguered refugees focused on survival, protecting Utah trails from Indian raids, and avoiding the inevitable bloodbath on the east coast.
This week, most of my LDS friends have taken a “holier than thou” position by entering into a false dichotomy and scolding both the insurrectionist Trump supporters AND the “violent” left. They eschew all controversy, calling for forgetting and forgiving 45 and the mob. It’s as though they completely forgot Packer’s parable “The Mediator”
“The creditor replied, ‘Mercy is always so one-sided. It would serve only you. If I show mercy to you, it will leave me unpaid. It is justice I demand. Do you believe in justice? …Mercy cannot rob justice.”
For all the flag waving and our tearful singing of patriotic songs in June and July, my LDS friends and relatives are not particularly interested in the siege of the Capitol, the interruption of our constitutional process; nor are they interested in holding fellow members of their party who committed crimes accountable in ways prescribed by the constitution.
At this point, there is no way that the church can come out and uphold it’s scriptural support for the inspired constitution or make a stand for democracy. With the majority of saints siding with or at least sympathizing with Trumpers, the brethren would equate any statement with sharply swerving the good ship Zion to the left, knocking about half the saints off the boat. They perceive their patriarchal pastoral role as needing to safely sail every single person throughout their lives- no exceptions. They would rather commit Hara-kiri than risk a single soul. The good ship Zion is going to continue sailing smoothly- no matter what.
Di: There’s no trace of your 1st comment on the W&T comments queue, so let’s just say computer malfunction. Nevertheless, you persisted. Thanks.
These days, I’m left wondering where my church has gone.
I’d understand their silence if there were a precedent for it. This is literally their job! There are so many examples in the scriptures of prophets, seers, and revelators being involved in the politics of the day. Nephi (the III?) straight up got involved and condemned the people and said it was their fault they had the government they had! Then told them what was happening at the moment to the king!
It’s a bit disheartening.
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice et al were never held to account for the lies that got us into Iraq and the resultant carnage & waste. Trump & current lunatic GOP is what happens when there are no consequences for straight-up stupidity. LDS leadership is putatively unaffiliated but strongly right-wing GOP. Those dog whistles were received loud & clear by the very large LDS majority that voted for Trump and his deplorable Utah sycophants. I frankly believe that $100+B in the bank has given the upper LDS echelon license to follow any dim star they please, membership and membership numbers be damned. They answer to no one.
Iraq: “ … for straight-up stupidity and greed.”
At a time like this, if you want to see what leadership is like watch this statement from Republican and former CA governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:
And if you’re not sure that he’s correct when he says things have consequences, note that a second USCP officer has now died. This time, apparently, of suicide. We don’t know why but it’s not unreasonable to guess that what happened on Wednesday weighed into his unfortunate choice. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/10/second-capitol-police-officer-dies-457072
Re Shwartzenegger:
This is what a prophetic statement looks like folks. This speaks directly to our better angels, loudly and directly. Who would have that this would come from Shwartzenegger?! We need to hear even better than this from SLC HQ.
I am happy that we regained control, but from what I have read, this could have easily gone the other way. People were ready to commit murder. There was talk of executing Pence.
So where do the Elders of Israel stand when the constitution hangs by a thread? At the ready with scissors in hand?
The church is referring people to Oaks conference talk. At the time of the Oaks talk I sumarised what I heard. “We have just had a general conference during an exceptional election campaign. I understand there are reasons why church leaders could not explicitly say vote one way or the other. Were there any subtle messages, one way or the other?
1. A group of people all social distancing, and wearing masks. Not Trump
2. Racism is bad and we must work to eradicate it. Not Trump
3. Demonstrations are constitutional, but violence is bad. 93% of BLM protests peacefull, violence come with white supremacists, or heavy handed policing. Not Trump
4. Contention, and bullying and hatred of the devil Not Trump
5.Zion society, one mind, and no poor among them Not Trump
6. Remove our prejudices, and find our moral compass. Not Trump
7. Heal society by being Christlike, honest, peacemakers, living and respecting our fellow men, be kind, humble, caring. Not Trump
8 Racial and other Diversity, and love can go together Not Trump
9. Be subject to law, oppose anarchy. Not Trump
10. Peacefully accept the results of elections. Not Trump
11. Loyalty to established law, not temporary leader. Not Trump
12. There were no warnings about socialism. Not Trump
13. Nothing about masks = attack on religious freedom. Not Trump
These are all from the Saturday morning session. Because of time zones we usually watch Sunday sessions next Sunday.
I’m sure you will have interpreted things differently. I saw a Sumary of Oaks talk on a conservative site as condemning race riots.”
So I saw 13 statements saying subtly, don’t vote for trump. 70% of members voted for trump. So pres Oaks thought something need to be said, but either the messages from church leaders are not clear enough, or they are being ignored by members who value trump facts more highly than church facts, or the institutions that defend democracy in America.
I understand the church has put something in the handbook about conspiracy theories and fake news. I read a commenter on millenium star that if you don’t support trump defending against the stolen election you are the one who is deluded. I understand half the membership would agree with this point of view. What a mess.
So church leaders did think it was their responsibility to say something, but they have to be much clearer on conspiracy theories too. Vague, plausably deniable, stuff hidden from view doesn’t work.
Who might the trump supporters listen to? Church leaders. Are they showing leadership? Pres Oaks now is your time to show us what moral leadership looks like. Better late than never?
Ji thanks for your comments on millenium star. Tried to lend support, but am banned, free speech not welcome.
Geoff-Aus, the politics of Utah itself disabuses me of any notions that the LDS hierarchy is in any sense shifting its right-wing narrative, the vague smoke signals you cite notwithstanding. Mike Lee (who as I’ve noted before is hard-wired into the upper echelons of of the Church) would have thought twice before referring to our corrupt idiot Pres as “Captain Moroni” or asserting, incredibly “He seeks not power, but to pull it down. He seeks not the praise of the world or the ‘fake news,’ but he seeks the well-being and the peace of the American people.” Sean Reyes goes snipe hunting for voter fraud in Reno of all places and still claims “irregularities.” Mitt Romney is a chameleon & opportunist who unexpectedly finds himself on the right side of history for a change. Utah politics is a sordid right-wing tale since the days of Reed Smoot and in no danger of reformation.
Geoff-Aus,
The church’s dog whistles to the saints are not the spoken values, but things like this:
1) President Monson didn’t meet Obama when he came to visit, but sent lower ranking Q12 members and 70’s. The entire FP met w 45 and the video of the meeting was played in between at multiple general conferences – even when it was no longer “news”.
2) Julie B Beck prayed at a Trump Rally in Utah w Pence in 2015 only weeks after being released as RS President. So did Elder Oaks’ brother.
3) Elder Oaks’ daughter and family (who have been massively promoted on lds.org and at Deseret Book) performed LDS hymns at a “LDS for trump” rally earlier this fall. This group included
LDS Republican politicians like Orrin Hatch, used not only the church’s name, but pictures of the SL Temple in propaganda. Jenny Oaks Baker also released a music video playing violin accompanied by Condie Rice. GA’s can’t become political, but their families can show you which way the wind blows.
3.) The church contributed to a controversial organization made popular by QAnon for rescuing children be trafficked in the sex trade.
4.) The church gave Pence talking points for stumping in Utah this fall…”religious liberty”, “family values”.
5.) I haven’t looked in a few years, but not long ago all the brethren were registered in UT as republicans. Now many have shifted to undisclosed. Some personally contributed to local republican campaigns. That’s becoming more rare.
Yeah-the brethren Leave a trail of bread crumbs that the politically active can follow.
I personally find the lack of political diversity An extremely disturbing development. .
(Faust used to be a democratic leader and Packer was a D. There were once others.)
When they’re saying nothing they surely look complicit.
Juxtaposed to an invitation from the mission president we fall under in this part of Britain I am really upset –
“an amazing opportunity to join the full-time missionaries in their upcoming Zone Conference to feel the spirit of missionary work and be reassured that “no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing.
….
“This event will be focused on Preach My Gospel Chapters 1 .. and 5.. It will help members and missionaries be united in their efforts, and be uplifted by the Spirit of missionary work. Great things will happen as a result of this!”
Really! Do we think the church in Britain exists in a vacuum? That our friends and neighbours have not been watching international news? That they are unaware of the abuse Mitt Romney received on that plane? Because that certainly got international attention.
At this point why would I even… words fail me. It’s a total abdication of ..everything.
Wait a minute……President Monson and FP met with Obama on July 20, 2009 to give him his genealogy. For whatever reason he didn’t in 2015 but that’s not an indication of a snub–remember he had dementia problems at that time.
Trump on the other hand has NOT been given his genealogy and I saw that as a signal that this guy was different from all other presidents in a negative way..
Mortimer–Renlund is a Democrat, I don’t know what Uchtdorf is but he doesn’t believe right wing politics =the Gospel or replaces it. He made some comment in a PH Conference session about tolerating family, like’ when your brother in law who thinks his politics is the Gospel’.
Let’s remember too that during the George Floyd riots, the Church issued a statement condemning racism but condemning the destruction of property harder. No such condemnation for domestic terrorism here.
Mike Lee’s response was essentially “you all should have done this in your own states not the US Capital.”
I read someone say recently that the last 6 years have not given much reprieve or time for healing questioning / struggling / progressive Mormons. It’s one total failure of leadership or poor decision after another. So true.
Mez, I’m delighted to learn about Renlund- thanks for the info! I vaguely recall the apology that was given in 2015 -an illness excused Monson at the last minute. His dementia was not public ally acknowledged at that time, and rumors popped up about sundowning potentially being a problem.
Out of curiosity I decided “OK, I’ll see what’s on the church newsroom website in this troubled time. What do we as a church want the world to see?”
GUYS! THE CHURCH OFFICE BUILDING IS GETTING IT’S PLAZA RENOVATED!
I wish I was joking about this being the premiere story.
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/
Notable corporations are withdrawing their donations from the lawmakers who objected to the simple procedural act of counting the electoral votes, recognizing it (and all that led up to it) as an assault on democracy:
“Judd Legum and Tesnim Zekeria at Popular Information yesterday broke the story that Marriott, BlueCross BlueShield, and Commerce Bank would not contribute to the 147 Republicans who objected to the counting of the electoral votes in Congress. That’s more than half the Republicans in Congress. Verizon, AT&T, and Amazon have now joined that boycott. Citigroup, 3M, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, and JPMorgan Chase have all halted political giving for several months, and a number of other companies say they are reevaluating their giving. T-Mobile told Popular Information: ‘The assault on the U.S. Capitol and on democracy was unacceptable.’.”
-Heather Cox Richardson
https://popular.info/p/three-major-corporations-say-they
Nice example of intellectual and moral decency from often profit-driven corporations.
* add, “…and all that it led to”
“recognizing it (and all that led up to it) as an assault on democracy”
Actions have consequences.
@Sasso what’s been crazy for me the last few years is feeling like my profit-driven employer has more moral compass and backbone than my political representatives and my Church. That’s unsettling.
Really glad to see companies doing this. It’s what will have the biggest impact.
“Actions have consequences.”
If only that had been true — and clear to the GOP during Trump’s first impeachment — we probably would have been spared the situation we’re presently in.
I have never really been a fan of Mitt Romney but I was impressed then that he was an independent man of conscience and I’ve never been more so than in the past week.
My hope is that in the weeks and months ahead it will be people of honor with the country’s and the Constitution’s interests at heart who will emerge to put together a stronger and more united country. And let the foes of that effort also become apparent and fade into ignominy like Joe McCarthy before them.
Good points.
Elisa, That is a difficult angle to recognize.
I read quite a bit, but much of the information in the gospel topics essays was new to me as they came out. One thing I recognized from reading them is that I am, and want to be, responsible for my own moral and ethical compass. Good information from solid sources (I love NPR) helps me sort through the chaotic narratives out there. It helps me see a larger picture.
Information beats ideology.
Alice, When I wrote that, I was thinking about the misleading, inflammatory rhetoric coming from President Trump for years. It led to the insurrection of many of his followers last Wednesday.
I don’t agree with Senator Romney’s ideology much, either. Also want to recognize good when he manifests it. He has shown some conscience in his support of democracy.