Congregations Respond to Election Results

Fairfax County Courthouse

Fairfax County Courthouse

The 2016 election results were astonishing no matter on which side of the divide you fall. Shocked and often dismayed, clergy from congregations all over the Washington DC area opened their doors on Wednesday for vigils, quiet space, community time, grieving, wondering, and recommitment to Unitarian Universalist values of inclusion and love. For a span of twelve hours, at least ten local congregations offered space for people to gather.

The Fairfax, Virginia interfaith community had already planned a Post Election Vigil for Healing for Wednesday night, arranged and sponsored by the UU Congregation of Fairfax. The vigil was held on the steps of the Historic Old Fairfax County Courthouse, a site held by both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War.

Rev. David Miller, Senior Minister at the UU congregation of Fairfax, shared these words: “We don’t live in the halls of Congress. We live in communities that are totally dependent on all of us trusting each other, doing our part and understanding the humanity of all.

We have been called together tonight at this Civil War site, to remember what happens when ideology runs rampant and we lose our ability to see the humanity in the eyes of the other. There is so much pain on all sides of this election. I can only think, how will the movement start to overcome our differences? Where will the first step be taken to move beyond the battles of the last century? When will we see that we are different and yet so totally dependent on each other?”

See local news coverage, including comments from local UU ministers Rev. David Miller, Rev. Julie Price, and Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael.

If your congregation held a vigil, demonstration or more, please tell us about it below!