Episcopal Church, Washington National Cathedral plan election-related services to pray for peace, unity

[Episcopal News Service] Washington National Cathedral announced Oct. 10 that it is planning a full-day prayer vigil on Election Day, followed by a second day of prayers for peace and unity after polls close. Then on Jan. 21, the day after the new president’s inauguration, an interfaith service at the cathedral will focus on “the need for healing and national unity.”

Also in the evening Nov. 5, The Episcopal Church’s Washington, D.C.-based Office of Government Relations invites the public to join “Election Night Virtual Prayers.” The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, who takes office Nov. 1 as the church’s presiding bishop, with open the event with his reflections and prayer.

The cathedral’s post-inauguration service will be a slight departure from historical practice at the cathedral, which has hosted 10 official inaugural prayer services for various presidents of both parties. Unlike in the past, its Jan. 21 liturgy will not be planned in conjunction with the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and whether former President Donald Trump or current Vice President Kamala Harris wins the Nov. 5 election, this service will not focus on the individual.

“This service is much more about the nation itself,” the Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, the cathedral’s dean, said in an interview with Episcopal News Service. “It’s about inclusivity. It’s about bringing us together. It’s about beginning to bring us some healing.”

Hollerith alluded to the often bitter divisions and political rhetoric in today’s United States, where the public discourse has become “so toxic at times.” As a landmark house of worship in the nation’s capital, Hollerith said, it was imperative for Washington National Cathedral to proclaim the message that Americans of every political stripe are “beloved children of God.”

The services planned at the cathedral, all of which will be livestreamed, coincide with The Episcopal Church’s broader efforts to promote civil discourse while encouraging Episcopalians to “vote faithfully” this election season.

The Episcopal Church does not endorse individual political candidates but rather encourages nonpartisan advocacy and political engagement as a way of witnessing Jesus’ Gospel message in today’s world. Its Office of Government Relations has assembled various resources into an election engagement toolkit, which has been updated for this presidential election year. New resources include ways of addressing misinformation, disinformation and political violence. The office also encourages parishes to take part in an ecumenical election challenge aimed at facilitating voter participation and building community.

Episcopalians can also consult the office’s toolkit for help in registering to vote, becoming poll workers, mobilizing their communities to participate and advocating for policy reforms backed by resolutions of The Episcopal Church’s General Convention. They also are encouraged to sign up to receive action alerts as part of the Episcopal Public Policy Network.

Some Americans already have begun casting their votes through early voting and mail-in ballots. Others will head to the polls on Nov. 5 and decide a presidential race that remains close heading into its final weeks.

The Office of Government Relations will hold its Election Evening Virtual Prayers from 8-10 p.m. Eastern Nov. 5. It will be available on Zoom or on Facebook.

In response to the tension and anxiety that has permeated this year’s election, Washington National Cathedral is focusing its election-related services on “peace, justice and safeguarding democratic values,” according to a cathedral news release.

The cathedral will pause tours of its facility on Election Day and instead will be open for prayer from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, a period it described as “a continuous vigil for prayer and reflection.” During that time, four liturgies are planned for in-person worshippers and livestream viewers: Morning Prayer at 8 a.m., an interfaith Noonday Service of Prayer at 12 p.m., Evening Prayer at 5 p.m. and Compline at 8:45 p.m. Livestreams can be viewed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel.

On Nov. 6, the cathedral again will be open all day for prayer after the election, with worship services at noon and 5 p.m. “recognizing the importance of maintaining peace and unity as the country moves forward.”

On Jan. 21, the cathedral’s Service for the National will “underscore the values of reconciliation, shared purpose and the work required to bring the nation together.” Washington Bishop Mariann Budde will preach.

Presidents who have participated in past inaugural prayer services at the cathedral include Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. While leaders from the current and incoming presidential administrations will be invited to the Jan. 21 service, it is not intended specifically as a service for the new administration.

“Whether voters choose Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, a large percentage of Americans will feel anxious, upset or fearful,” Hollerith said in the cathedral’s news release. “We need to find a way to heal what divides us, and prayer is an important part of that healing process.”

– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.