Religious tolerance and faith -- The Mitt Romney "Faith In America" Address:

Speaking at the George Bush Presidential Library, Gov. Mitt Romney addressed the American people about his views on religious liberty, our country grand tradition of religious tolerance and how faith would inform his presidency.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction.

"It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt. Thank you, Mr. President.

"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.

"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.

"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.

"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams’ words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.

"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.

"Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for president, not a Catholic running for president. Like him, I am an American running for president. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.

"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

"As governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.

"As a young man, Lincoln described what he called America's 'political religion' – the commitment to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.

"There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.

"Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.

"There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.

"I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life's blessings.

"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it's usually a sound rule to focus on the latter – on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people.

"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust.

"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our constitution rests. I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from 'the God who gave us liberty.'

"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?

"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.

"We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'

"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality.

"Americans acknowledge that liberty is a gift of God, not an indulgence of government. No people in the history of the world have sacrificed as much for liberty. The lives of hundreds of thousands of America's sons and daughters were laid down during the last century to preserve freedom, for us and for freedom loving people throughout the world. America took nothing from that Century's terrible wars -- no land from Germany or Japan or Korea; no treasure; no oath of fealty. America's resolve in the defense of liberty has been tested time and again. It has not been found wanting, nor must it ever be. America must never falter in holding high the banner of freedom.

"These American values, this great moral heritage, is shared and lived in my religion as it is in yours. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. I saw my father march with Martin Luther King. I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby, and in just as consequential ways in leading national volunteer movements. I am moved by the Lord's words: 'For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me...'

"My faith is grounded on these truths. You can witness them in Ann and my marriage and in our family. We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the self-same as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation. And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.

"Today's generations of Americans have always known religious liberty. Perhaps we forget the long and arduous path our nation's forbearers took to achieve it. They came here from England to seek freedom of religion. But upon finding it for themselves, they at first denied it to others. Because of their diverse beliefs, Ann Hutchinson was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, a banished Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, and two centuries later, Brigham Young set out for the West. Americans were unable to accommodate their commitment to their own faith with an appreciation for the convictions of others to different faiths. In this, they were very much like those of the European nations they had left.

"It was in Philadelphia that our founding fathers defined a revolutionary vision of liberty, grounded on self evident truths about the equality of all, and the inalienable rights with which each is endowed by his Creator.

"We cherish these sacred rights, and secure them in our Constitutional order. Foremost do we protect religious liberty, not as a matter of policy but as a matter of right. There will be no established church, and we are guaranteed the free exercise of our religion.

"I'm not sure that we fully appreciate the profound implications of our tradition of religious liberty. I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired … so grand … so empty. Raised up over generations, long ago, so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer. The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe's churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.

"Infinitely worse is the other extreme, the creed of conversion by conquest: violent Jihad, murder as martyrdom... killing Christians, Jews, and Muslims with equal indifference. These radical Islamists do their preaching not by reason or example, but in the coercion of minds and the shedding of blood. We face no greater danger today than theocratic tyranny, and the boundless suffering these states and groups could inflict if given the chance.

"The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed.

"In such a world, we can be deeply thankful that we live in a land where reason and religion are friends and allies in the cause of liberty, joined against the evils and dangers of the day. And you can be certain of this: Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me. And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion – rather, we welcome our nation's symphony of faith.

"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.

"In that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine 'author of liberty.' And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, 'with freedom's holy light.'

"God bless the United States of America."

Text of Rev. Joseph Lowery's inauguration benediction

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
thou, who has brought us thus far along the way,
thou, who has by thy might led us into the light,
keep us forever in the path we pray,
lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee,
lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.
Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand
true to thee, oh God, and true to our native land.

We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day.
We pray now, oh Lord,
for your blessing upon thy servant Barack Obama,
the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration.

He has come to this high office at a low moment
in the national, and indeed the global, fiscal climate.

But because we know you got the whole world in your hands,
we pray for not only our nation,
but for the community of nations.

Our faith does not shrink though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord,
you are able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership
to restore stability,
mend our brokenness,
heal our wounds,
and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor,
of the least of these,
and from favoritism toward the rich,
the elite of these.

We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president,
to inspire our nation to believe
that yes we can work together to achieve a more perfect union.

And while we have sown the seeds of greed — the wind of greed and corruption,
and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption,
we seek forgiveness
and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity
to commit our support to our president
by our willingness to make sacrifices,
to respect your creation,
to turn to each other and not on each other.

And now, Lord,
in the complex arena of human relations,
help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate;
on the side of inclusion, not exclusion;
tolerance, not intolerance.

And as we leave this mountain top,
help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family.
Let us take that power back to our homes,
our workplaces,
our churches,
our temples,
our mosques,
or wherever we seek your will.

Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle.
Look over our little angelic Sasha and Malia.

We go now to walk together as children,
pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead.
We know you will not leave us alone.
With your hands of power and your heart of love,
help us then, now, Lord,
to work for that day when nations shall not lift up sword against nation,
when tanks will be beaten into tractors,
when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree
and none shall be afraid,
when justice will roll down like waters
and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest,
and in the joy of a new beginning,
we ask you to help us work for that day
when black will not be asked to get in back,
when brown can stick around ...
when yellow will be mellow ...
when the red man can get ahead, man;
and when white will embrace what is right.

Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

Information Update about St Mark's Future

Following several Town Hall Conversations, here is where we currently stand:

1) An overwhelming majority are very interested in our doing whatever we need to do to ensure that St Marks continues to grow and progress at a healthy rate of growth. There is particular interest in ensuring that we have sufficient facilities for young families, children and teens.

2) An overwhelming majority support our acquisition of additional property for future growth.

3) A significant number of persons will support the acquisition of additional property by giving generously and sacrificially. We have by no means, however, reached the level of financial support for the acquisition that it is clear that we would be able to purchase it. This requires further study.

4) There is considerable anxiety about what would happen to our present building. We have not yet successfully communicated the following:

First, the proposal to acquire additional property is about expanding our property, not replacement of our property. Our cemetery is permanent and can neither be sold nor moved. So we would continue to hold our present church property.

Second, while the acquisition of additional property has been proposed, there has not yet been a proposal for the future of our present church building. We do know that we have serious structural problems, especially the foundation. Perhaps a proposal for the future might include moving the present building temporarily while we excavate and recreate a new foundation. Perhaps it might include restoring the present building to its original, historic condition. Some people would like to see the building remain where it is, to service the cemetery, for weddings, and to function as a chapel for other special services. Some would like our traditional services to continue in our current location while our growing alternative service and educational programs meet down the road. Others would like our building to be moved and integrated into the new property in order to help the parish community retain its unity. Others have no opinion. But the crucial point to remember is that the proposal to acquire new property does not entail a proposed plan for the current building. We do not have to make any decisions about the current building for years to
come.

Third, no matter what we should decide to do in the future about our current building (create a new foundation? restore it? move it?), we will need to continue to use the building just as it is many years to come. It is not unusual for a growing congregation to acquire land for future growth, and then to hold that land for 20 years while it continues growing in its current location (if possible), and while it builds up its funds for future construction.

Fourth, even if we were to raise enough funds to put a new fellowship hall and additional program space on the new property, we would absolutely need to continue using our current building for worship for years to come.

Fifth, even if, years from now, we offered an alternative worship service on Sunday mornings in a new fellowship hall on our new property, we could continue to offer traditional worship on Sunday mornings in our current building for as long as we wished to do so.

The imperative issue to remember is that adding additional space for program and growth does not require anyone to lose or give up their current worship space. How we choose to configure both our properties in the future will depend on what we all choose to do for the good of all.

5) No matter what we decide about the acquisition of land for the future, this proposal does not address ANY of our current space problems. While our two traditional worship services have plenty of space for new members, we cannot offer opportunites for adult education on Sunday morning. We cannot offer a nursery. We are terribly overcrowded in our Sunday School and youth ministries. We experience conflicting needs for our fellowship hall. Our fellowship hall is too small for many of our events during the year. We have stopped some of our programs and events of the past because we no longer have space for them. The acquisition of land for the future addresses none of our current needs, nor our anticipated needs for the coming year. We need a two-pronged approach: Long term AND short term. For the past six years we have worked on short term approaches only by annexing the rectory for program space, by expanding our Sunday morning schedule, and by restructuring our old space. But we have run out of options for the short term, and we have no plan for the long term.


Slideshow about St Marks History of Growth

A slideshow containing much of the information about our growth and needs discussed in our Town Hall Conversations can be viewed here.

What About Spinning Off a New Congregation?

At least as early as 2002, some St Marks members said they preferred St Marks to launch a new mission (spin off a daughter congregation) as an alternative to long term growth. Because this idea continued to surface during our recent Town Hall Conversations, we made available a survey in December to see whether this idea were viable. Here is how St Marks members responded:

• Only two people expressed any interest in working toward this.

• Several more said they might be interested in launching a new mission at some point in the distant future, but only after we had successfully grown St Marks to a stable, "program sized" congregation.

• The overwhelming belief of responders definitely oppose the idea of launching a new mission in the near future.

In light of this clear response, it is obvious that there is insufficient interest to consider a new mission as an alternative to long term growth. This is definitely not an option we will consider further, at least until after we have successfully grown St Marks to the size of a stable, "program-sized" congregation.