HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris and church leaders here at home are all calling for unity within the nation.
“Say to your neighbor, I don’t know how you voted, or how you would’ve voted, but I love you anyways,” First Baptist Church of Huntsville Pastor Travis Collins said Wednesday night.
In a country many describe as deeply divided in recent years, the election aftermath has left one issue on people’s minds: unity. It’s a concept Vice President Harris addressed in her concession speech Wednesday.
“Bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united,” Vice President Harris said.
Unity is a mission that the First Baptist Church of Huntsville is prioritizing.
“So, we have Republicans and Democrats in this church,” Betty Barnett, a church member, said. “We don’t want anybody to feel like they’re left out or franchised. But, we love everybody.”
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The First Baptist Church of Huntsville hosted a unity meeting the night after the election, encouraging everyone to come regardless of any political affiliations. The turnout was tremendous, leading to the room’s walls being lined with church members of all ages, from teenagers to older adults.
“A deep longing, not only in our church but, I think, in our country to not do this anymore,” Pastor Collins said. “You know, we’ve been divided for a long time. I don’t know what the solution is, but I think there’s a longing in most American hearts not to fight anymore.”
Collins added that the political stage and the church do not go hand in hand.
“I think if the Christian faith needs support from the political world, we’re in big trouble,” Pastor Collins said. “The Christian faith was intended to stand on its own.”
Church members are encouraged to exercise their political rights, whether it be through voting, running for office, influencing politics or many other ways. Pastor Collins suggested that it should not affect their faith.
“I think that when Thomas Jefferson talked about that, that wall of separation between church and state, he never meant that people of faith shouldn’t influence politics,” Pastor Collins said. “It was mainly a protection of the church from politicians imposing their will. But we were never intended, I believe, for people to co-opt the church for political gain.”
Pastor Collins emphasized the point of referring to his church as a “purple church,” combining the political colors of blue and red. He noted that everyone, and anyone, is always welcome to practice their faith no matter who they voted for, or what party they’re affiliated to.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
