Following the consequential outcomes of the American midterm elections on November 3, voters delivered a broad and unmistakable rebuke of Donald Trump’s policies, shifting the balance of power by handing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to the Democrats. For many citizens, civil rights advocates, and political analysts, the results signaled a turning point in the national legislative landscape, offering a clear referendum on foreign policy, immigration, and the economic wellbeing of the working class.
Yet, for Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, the primary takeaway from the election results transcends standard political analysis. Writing in the wake of the vote, Hirschfeld argues that the most urgent task for Christians is not merely analyzing electoral math or celebrating partisan victories, but rather cultivating a deliberate way of being. In his view, people of faith are called to model love and unity without demanding uniformity, especially amid intense political polarization, deep moral conflicts, and widespread human suffering.
The timing of the election added a layer of historical and theological resonance to the moment. Election Day fell directly on the feast day of Richard Hooker, the influential 16th-century priest and theologian who helped lay the foundational stones of Anglican theology. Commemorated as a saint within the Episcopal Church, Hooker navigated a turbulent era of intense religious strife that followed the Protestant Reformation. During a time of fierce division, Hooker articulated the vital necessity for the church to chart a via media, or "middle way," steering carefully between the extremes of an autocratic Roman Catholic Church and the unbridled subjectivity of individual biblical interpretation.
Hooker envisioned an authentic church that would embody truth precisely by navigating a path between extremes, viewing this approach not as an uneasy compromise designed to broker a fragile, superficial peace, but as a genuine journey toward comprehension. For Hooker, comprehension meant an active and courageous embrace of truth found across conflicting positions. Reflecting on this historical precedent, Hirschfeld suggests that modern religious institutions face a similar crossroads, where the temptation to align entirely with secular political factions threatens to undermine the spiritual mission of the church.
The bishop issues a stern caution against allowing religious communities to devolve into partisan echo chambers. Unless the church actively resists the fantasy that a uniformly conservative or liberal membership will somehow usher in the heavenly kingdom, it risks losing its transcendent purpose. Hirschfeld points to the foundational tenets of the tradition, noting how the Book of Common Prayer reminds believers that Jesus stretched out his arms of love on the hard wood of the cross so that all humanity might come within the reach of his saving embrace.
Naturally, Hirschfeld acknowledges, putting such expansive love into practice is neither easy nor comfortable. It demands that individuals engage in difficult, face-to-face conversations with neighbors who view electoral outcomes through entirely different lenses—whether someone who interprets a sweeping political victory as a triumph over a perceived adversary, or someone whose long-standing grievances, economic fears, and cultural anxieties drove them to support the MAGA movement over the past decade. Maintaining communion across these deep ideological divides remains one of the greatest pastoral challenges of the modern era.
Hirschfeld expresses deep dismay at observing how some members of the clergy have openly expressed contempt for members of their own congregations whose political leanings diverge from theirs. Such behavior, he suggests, stands in direct contradiction to the solemn vows taken by bishops and clergy, which commit them to keeping church doors and hearts open to all people—strong or weak, rich or poor, regardless of where they fall on the ideological spectrum. Reflecting on the ministry of Jesus, who walked and conversed with individuals from all walks of life, Hirschfeld notes that critics have sometimes dismissed this inclusive pastoral stance as a weakening of the Gospel.
However, bridging these divides is rarely theoretical; it is intensely personal and often unnerving. Hirschfeld shares his own experiences of stepping out of his comfort zone, walking across the driveway into a neighbor’s garage, and asking to pray together. Admitting that his knees knock and that the encounter requires every ounce of courage and trust in God he can muster, the bishop emphasizes that the outcome is human connection. Despite lingering bafflement and mutual political bewilderment, the interaction results in simple, profound recognition: they leave knowing each other’s names.
In a similar vein, Hirschfeld highlights broader examples of cross-partisan grace, pointing to expressions of mutual respect and personal care demonstrated by political figures like Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico toward his political opponents. When the current national fever eventually breaks, Hirschfeld notes, citizens from all political backgrounds will ultimately be forced to find ways to care for one another.
At the same time, Hirschfeld does not shy away from expressing his own political and moral convictions regarding the state of the nation. He voices clear gratitude for what he perceives as a much-needed electoral rebuke of aggressive foreign interventions, the dehumanizing rhetoric directed at immigrants and people of color, and what he describes as a deliberate callousness toward the working class and the poor. Furthermore, he expresses deep concern over how religious texts have been frequently distorted in the public square, sometimes appearing to ignore or omit the foundational teachings of the Sermon on the Mount or the accounts of the Crucifixion. The election of several mainline Christian pastors to Congress offers a glimmer of hope that a more reasoned, morally grounded voice might find a home in federal politics.
Yet, even as the political landscape shifts, Hirschfeld remains acutely aware of the dangers of triumphalism. He explicitly warns against allowing the widespread rebuke of the previous administration’s policies to morph into a new cycle of retribution and partisan contempt from the opposite side of the political aisle. Looking toward the future of governance, he offers a pragmatic hope: that lawmakers resist unproductive political distractions and instead focus on crafting well-reasoned, soundly deliberated policies concerning the economy, foreign relations, and immigration.
Paraphrasing the sentiment of Psalm 123, Hirschfeld suggests that the nation has experienced more than enough contempt. While expressing profound thankfulness for the peaceful conduct and clarity of the election, the bishop concludes with a fervent prayer. He urges both newly elected officials and the broader religious community to resurrect virtues that have slowly vanished from modern civil discourse: mercy, justice, prudence, patience, forbearance, compassion, and love.