At one point, I figured that I had just about enough personal information leaked out that everyone would probably figure it out anyway. I was a bit afraid that disclosing my ID would make me more timid. And I thought I knew me.

Honestly, I’ve found it to be a freeing experience. I walked into a job interview this past Monday and already had the job because of my blogging. “We need people who can explain these complex taxation issues to a bunch of engineering students.” Well. Ain’t I all bright and shiny as a new penny?

But I’ve also experienced the other end. After writing a particularly critical piece about our Federal Attorney, I got an email from his law partner that sort of casually mentioned that he might have to mention how disappointed he was in my writing to the University President when they next had cocktails. Whether that was the reason or not, I had no less than four courses cancelled over the next three semesters.

I am, from time to time, asked if my personal political beliefs intrude upon my teaching of political science. My answer is, “Of course - and anyone who doesn’t tell you that isn’t self-aware enough to teach this course.” I am very proud of the fact that some of the students who have maintained closest contact with me over the years have, in fact, been some of the most conservative. The reason is simple: I’ve never used my class to convert anyone, I’m simply trying to get them to argue whatever they belief with more passion and tie it to actual facts and ideological foundations.

The difference is that part of a pastor’s job is intrinsically tied to their ideological foundations. At least, in part. Could you set aside your political values, which spring from your spiritual values, in order to comfort some raving evangelical nutcase whose child just died? I have no doubt in the least. But I think that person would simply not find themselves as comfortable in your church as they would in a congregation that more closely matched their own beliefs.

This is something I have wrestled with. I hold some deep resentments against the faith of my childhood. However, the purpose of faith is not to make me feel better, but to draw people ever closer to God’s love (my spin there - feel free to agree or not). As uncomfortable as I would be today attending the right-wing church I grew up in, those same people would feel just as uncomfortable in my church, where our pastor is so openly gay that he sued the state to allow him to marry.

There’s a reason why so many denominations exist. I don’t think it’s because there are different Gods, but because God understands that us little humans need to put a face on Him that we can accept. Just as I don’t care if my adult daughter calls me “Dad” or “Thurman”, I think God doesn’t care if His kids think he is Episcopalian (which he is) or Baptist or Hindu or, perhaps, even non-existent.

So I say, slap that Obama sticker on your car. Yeah, some people might not like it. It will either matter or it won’t, but either way, it will be known sooner than later that it is a problem. Which is worse - to get denied out of hand by a church for having a blog or to have it “discovered” three months after your family moves to be closer to your pastorage, and then get the can?

As a parting thought, disclosing someone’s identity should always be their choice. It isn’t too late for you to ask your friend to change the link. Yeah, the cached page will show up for a few that really know how to snoop. But it might ease your mind a bit. Friends, I am led to believe, do these sorts of things for friends.

And, by the way, if no one has said it lately - thanks for having such a lovely cyber-home for the rest of us to track mud and sunshine through.

So, no mention of church=day off. Mention of church name: work related.

A side question I’m pondering, is Facebook a day off activity? If members of the church friend me and see political content there, is that the same as them happening to see me out canvassing for a candidate, or the same as me advocating a candidate from the pulpit? That is the question.

I think it’s like the former, for no good reason really. Except that I don’t friend parishioners, I will only confirm them as friends if they extend the invitation. So I feel like if they’re going to seek that contact they get to live with the consequences.

in nov. 2004, after voting VERY early in the day, i flew to texas to visit my sister. i’m liberal. she’s conservative. she is on the staff of a very conservative texas mega-church and on the sunday after the election i visited her church. the pastor said words similar to these—”i want everyone to give liberally to the capital funds drive, but that’s all i want you to do liberally!” earlier in the service he’d made comments about how well the presidential election had turned out.
i felt sooo ill at ease! if i hadn’t been visiting w/ my sister i would have just left the service.

i think there’s a reason why you are feeling a bit uncomfortable about what to do/say about your politics. you don’t want to make other people feel dis-included in worship because their opinions differ from your own (like i did in my sister’s church).

can’t recall the beginning of the expression that ends with “…leave everything else to God,” but perhaps that applies here. share the Good News, encourage people to do things for the least of these, help folks understand what’s in the Bible, offer Christian fellowship at its best, share your own experience of God and let others do the same and leave everything else to God.

does that mean you can’t be politically active on your day off? of course not. but in your official capacity as pastor, i think that’s another matter. good luck sorting this one out and i’ll stay tuned to read your ongoing thinking on this matter.

i’ve been in churches where i was more conservative than most members and i’ve been in churches where i was (am) more liberal than most members. that works out fine as long as politics aren’t a big part of what the church is about. in looking for the right church in the town we live in now (for the last 3 years) i found MANY churches that were WAY too conservative for my tastes and then i sighed a big sigh when i found the church i finally joined. there are subtle (and not so subtle) clues that folks pay attention to. and i think subtle is good—especially from the pastoral staff.

Does this bother me-? Not unless the pastor exhibits the sort of attitude described by Chaplain Mom.

I think that seminary training and the type of personality that finds herself called to the ministy are naturally compatible with a liberal/Democratic party sympathy. I find that is a good challenge and balance to my legal/corporate/TypeA/ETNJ self and makes me re-examine my own opinions so I don’t stray too far from the Gospel in the other direction. And isn’t that what a good pastor does?

Just my 2 cents.

(And that’s the first time I think I’ve ever typed that sentence.)