For some residents of Anchorage, "A Catholic, a Unitarian Universalist and a Baptist are walking down the street ..." is not the start of a joke. It's the ongoing reality of working for the good of the community. A house divided against itself cannot stand, says Jesus in Mark 3. An Alaska divided cannot stand, either. While diversity makes our lives interesting, bitter division makes them painful.
AFACT (Anchorage Faith and Action — Congregations Together) spent the last three weeks of May holding daily prayer vigils in front of the new Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO) downtown in support of Medicaid expansion. From noon to 1 p.m. each weekday, we prayed, marched, sang, spoke with lawmakers, attended legislative hearings and waved at motorists who honked in support. We were joined by members of our diverse congregations, as well as passersby,and others who heard of the vigils through the media or word of mouth and joined to show their support of this important piece of legislation. More than 200 people participated.
During our final vigil, Friday, May 29, a small delegation walked through the LIO to pray at every office door and every meeting room. We prayed that each person be well in mind, body and spirit, and that a collegial spirit of peace be restored to all the state's lawmakers, and we prayed that each room be blessed with a spirit of cooperation. Our prayers reflected our gratitude for all the legislators who were generous with their time and energy in meeting with us through out these sessions, from the majority and minority caucuses alike. We do not always agree on the policies needed for Alaska but we do hope together for the well-being of Alaska, Alaskans and our mutual future.
Since then, we have returned to our congregations to pray, reflect and discern our way forward.
Medicaid expansion is not welfare. It is a health safety net for Alaskans who are unable to make ends meet for themselves at this time. Alaskans have always cared for their neighbors. That's what makes life in this state possible. Indeed, that's what always has. To that end, we continue to study, assess and weigh all aspects of this issue. More important, as people of faith, we continue to pray for a just and equitable solution to this issue.
We pray that our governor, led by the light of faith, compassion and democracy, continues to seek a solution to the Medicaid expansion impasse.
We pray for an end to the divisiveness that has plagued this Legislature and our state conversations, both during the regular session and beyond. We ask that the effects of this divisiveness won't spill further into our communities, adding to a growing sense of frustration and disillusionment among our neighbors.
We pray for wholeness to be restored to our communities, that we come together not in anger as adversaries but in love as people who share a commitment to build a stronger, healthier home for all, not just some, Alaskans.
We pray that we can work together in a spirit of love, placing less emphasis on politics and more emphasis on people. We pray that cooperation will be less of a joking hope and more of a concrete reality.
We pray for the grace to let our actions reflect the nickname of our state, the Great Land.
We pray, in short, for unity.
Pastor Robert Evans serves Bethel Chapel in Anchorage's Mountain View neighborhood. Pastor Julia Seymour serves Lutheran Church of Hope in West Anchorage. Both serve on AFACT's Board of Directors. AFACT members include 15 churches from eight denominations representing Anchorage's broad socioeconomic and ethnic population. Learn more about their organization at www.anchoragefact.org.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.