Interview with Rev. Larry Pickens
The year 2004 marked the year of a rigorously fought election on issues of faith, where for the first time, the political arena gave way to moral values. Rather than being dominated by concerns over the economy and national defense, the American public resounded a ‘yes’ to issues of faith, as more than 50% of the popular vote went to incumbent President Bush, which has not happened since his father’s win in early 90s. Also, the Republican Party gained votes in both the House and Senate, allowing it to dominate both houses – a feat that had not occurred since 1920’s. This election has left the nation deeply divided; some have even called the cleavage as deep as that of the slavery issue in Abraham Lincoln’s election before the Civil War. The election is explored in an interview with the Rev. Larry Pickens, General Secretary of the UMC’s General Commission on Christian Unity & Interreligious Concerns.
What do you think was the main issue in this year’s election? And did the issue affect the outcome of the election?
One of the great things of this past election is that people took it seriously. I think that that’s one of the dynamics that is at the heart of the issue of unity in this country as well as in the United Methodist church. This clash of cultures, how many believe we’ve lost our moral compass. I would hope that in the context of our church and society, that we would learn how to deal with our differences in ways that are productive.
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I think this was a very caustic campaign. And because of that there’s probably some residue left over. But I think that as we move forward, the war in Iraq is still going to be front and center. And I think that people are growing more and more concern about that war, and how long we will end up being there.
The agenda now is for us to be vigilant about the Supreme Court, and I guess that if I would go on to give you a capsule statement, it would be: If you voted for George Bush, there’s hope. If you voted for John Kerry there’s hope, and if you didn’t vote, there’s hope. After all, we all share some of the same values.
How do you feel about the Iraq War? And how much do you think Bush has allowed his faith to determine the policies on the Iraq War?
I disagree with the war on Iraq. It was not a well-planned war. We went in there without a real sense of what our objectives were. That’s one of our problems. Also, his lack of willingness to listen to progressive religious leaders speaks for itself. He was approached by the United Methodist Council of Bishops in reference to the Iraq War, and his refusal to meet with them speaks for itself.
Has George W. Bush been faithful to Christian values in terms of the economy and poverty? How much of a priority will Bush accord this issue in his second term?
I think that the fact is we’ve had more unemployment under George Bush. I think that the challenges facing this nation in poverty continue to grow. I see this as a critical issue. I think that tax cuts for the wealthy will not help.
However, in the second term of any presidency, most presidents think about his legacy. My hope is that he will reach across divide and bring unity. I think the Middle East is a powder keg and can explode at any moment. I think that that’s going to be a critical issue. Terrorism is still going to be an issue.
What role do you think faith played in Bush’s campaign and in winning the election?
I think that faith has been turned into a major issue with respect to the way in which people view political issues. In the president’s case, his faith played a major role in the election. He seems to be a man of devout religious prayer, but I’m not sure that he put the decision making of the presidency in terms of is ‘this what God wants me to do.’ I think you have to see yourself as a servant of God but you have to also see what’s best in terms of the nation in his particular perspective. I think that he understands and he draws that kind of distinction.
He made a political decision when he raised the issue of constitutional amendment advocating marriages between solely between a man and a woman. That was a solely apolitical aim. I would be surprised if he really pushed that in his second term. I don’t see his position being as very different from other presidents because President Clinton also proposed the same thing. And I don’t think he’s going to be a zealot over this issue in the next term.
I understand that President Bush is a United Methodist. Would you like to comment on that?
He refused to see the bishops, and if he is a United Methodist there ought to be a willingness to embrace and there’s a sense that he hasn’t.
The Rev. Larry Pickens, 45, is a senior pastor a member of the United Methodist Judicial Council, and the General Secretary of the UMC’s General Commission on Christian Unity & Interreligious Concerns located in New York City. Dr. Pickens holds a B.A. in political science from North Park University. He also holds a Masters both in Theological Studies and Divinity. He received a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary and a JD from DePaul University, College of Law. Serving in his seventeenth year in the Northern Illinois Conference, his ministry encompasses advocacy, economic development, and ecumenical engagement.
