In this exceptional political cycle and fraught political climate, it can be difficult to navigate with thoughtful engagement. This month Dr. Robert Benne and Bishop Dick Graham bring their years of experience and thought into reflections intended to help traverse these waters. They both encourage active citizenship and flag dangers in political activity, with an eye to distinctive Lutheran perspectives. Both remind us that participation in politics is part of God’s ongoing expectation of people of faith, despite the choppy waters. Michael Kuchinsky’s review of the Jan Karski classic My Report to the World: Story of a Secret State pairs nicely with the articles by exploring one man’s ethically fraught fight against oppression in World War II.
Carmelo Santos, Ph.D., serves as associate pastor at St. Mark’s (San Marcos) Lutheran Church in Springfield, VA. He is also a lecturer at Georgetown University.