A Pastoral Letter

Patrick Vaughn, Pinnacle Associate

Rev. Dr. Vaughn serves as Interim Pastor with Bedford Presbyterian Church, Bedford, NY. The following is a pastoral letter shared with the congregation. Many of you are connecting with your congregations through pastoral letters, inspiring us to share this one which may inspire others to use this Biblical practice of letter-writing.

Dear friends,

A video of a conflict between a customer and Costco employee recently went viral; it has been viewed thousands of times. The employee calmly asked the man to wear a mask and explained that it was company policy. The customer was belligerent and snapped, “I’m not doing it because I woke up in a free country!”

Really? Is that what freedom means? When I listen to individuals assert their independence with such vociferous intensity, I don’t simply hear an adult making a claim. I hear the echo of a frightened and petulant child pushing back against their parents: “You can’t tell me what to do!”

Sometimes, I also wonder if they have ever actually read the preamble to our constitution, particularly this phrase: “to promote the general welfare.” The dynamic tension between individual liberty and social accountability runs throughout the history of our union. It is a delicate balance that can never be fully resolved. When we assume a fixed position on either side of the individual/communal continuum, we have missed the mark. Rather, we repeatedly grapple with the challenge of how we as diverse individuals are going to live together in community.

Thankfully, it appears that the vast majority of our fellow citizens are striving to tend not only to self but to the needs of others. They affirm both the concerns of the individual and the society. The outspoken, belligerent, and armed garner much attention but are in reality few in number. “I woke up in a free country!” the man protested. But freedom without responsibility is nothing more than licentiousness and self-absorbed impulsivity.

As we make our way through this pandemic, we as Christians have a word that others might find helpful, and that word, surprisingly, is for. In our faith tradition we celebrate the good news that in Christ we are free from. Free from sin. Free from loneliness. Free from despair. Free from the need or compulsion to prove our dignity or earn our acceptance.

Yet, that is only part of the story. The Christian tradition also celebrates the good news that we are free for. Free for love. Free for community. Free for neighbor. Free for justice. Wearing a mask, then, is an exercise in freedom. Expressing concern for those now unemployed is an exercise in freedom. Increasing our support for local food pantries is an exercise in freedom. Maintaining six feet of distance between us and others is an exercise in freedom.

Over the past two months I have witnessed our congregation celebrate the gift of freedom in a splendid variety of ways. Eric is free for ensuring that our church’s bills are paid in a timely manner. He visits the church nearly every day. The PNC is free for continuing in their search for BPC’s next minister. They are meeting at least once and, often, even twice a week. Jim is free for providing the technical support that makes our worship services available on the internet. This requires hours of tedious labor. Dave is free for nurturing our confirmands. Weren’t their faith statements last Sunday moving? The quilting group is free for regularly checking on one another. They use email as easily as the phone. Ben is free for overseeing a repair project at the manse. Raw sewage bubbling up in the parking lot is just not a good look. In these and so many other ways I see a congregation faithfully exercising freedom.

It can certainly be disconcerting when we see viral videos of a few who use their wails, words, and weapons to intimidate and demean those who are striving to keep their families and neighbors safe. Burning a governor in effigy is abhorrent.

But if you want to see true freedom, if you want to enjoy a taste of hope, don’t get caught up in viral videos or combustible protestations. Turn your attention closer to home. You need look no further than our very brothers and sisters.

Thinking of you.

Patrick