A Pastoral Letter regarding the National Election

A Pastoral Letter to our community of faith about the election.

by Father Lee Davis on November 06, 2024

November 6, 2024; A Pastoral Letter

Dear Beloved Community of St. Mary Magdalene & St. Martin,

Grace and peace to each of you.

As our country moves forward following this recent election, I know that many in our community feel a range of emotions. Some feel hopeful and encouraged, while others feel sadness, disappointment, or even fear. For some, there may be deep concerns about what these changes will mean for their lives and the lives of those they love. In times like these, it is more important than ever that we come together as a community of faith, grounded in our calling to follow Christ.

Our Baptismal Covenant gives us a vision of who we are and who we are called to be, especially in uncertain times. Regardless of who holds power in government, our purpose as followers of Christ remains constant and clear. We are called to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.” This love, modeled after Jesus, asks us to hold one another with compassion, to listen deeply to each other, and to create space for the experiences of those who may feel differently. Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to love beyond our divisions and disagreements, seeing Christ in every person—even, and especially, in those we may not understand.

Now, perhaps more than ever, we are also called to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” This means we are to be a source of hope and compassion, reaching out to those who feel marginalized, vulnerable, or afraid. Our role as a faith community is to stand beside those who need support, to be a voice for the voiceless, and to work toward a world where God’s justice and peace are known by all.

In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” As followers of Christ, we are called to live out our faith through our actions, to bring God’s love into a world that deeply needs it. This sacred work—to care, to serve, to uplift—is not easy, but it is essential, and it is our calling. And as a community, we do not walk this path alone. Together, we draw strength from each other and from God’s Spirit as we strive to live faithfully.

In the days, months, and years ahead, I invite each of us to return to our shared practices of gathering, worship, prayer, service, and support for Sts. MM&M. Coming together as a community of faith is vital. These aren’t simply rituals; they are the means by which we stay connected to one another and to God’s love. When we come together, we ground ourselves in God’s peace, strengthen our bonds as a community, and renew our commitment to the work Christ has given us to do. Let us make gathering in fellowship a priority, for it is in this unity that we find encouragement, resilience, and purpose. Together, we can lift each other up, pray for our leaders and our nation, support one another in love, and serve together to help be the light of Christ in the communities around us.

May we be a beacon of hope, compassion, and resilience, rooted in the promises we have made and sustained by God’s boundless love. Now is the time to let our light shine, that others may see the love of Christ through us.

With deep love and abiding hope,

Father Lee+

Tags: faith, hope, election, pastoral

About the Author
Father Lee Davis

After a diverse career in marketing and finance and a sudden realization of the love and power of God that he discovered aboard a Navy ship, Father Lee Davis has the distinction of being baptized, confirmed, and received for Holy Orders on the same Sunday. He studied at Bexley Hall Seminary in Columbus, Ohio where he received a Master's of Divinity degree in 2009 and then served as priest-in-charge of St. Andrew's in Hollywood, Florida as well as an assisting priest at St. Benedict's in Plantation. Father Lee also worked as a Hospice Chaplain. When he left after a little more than two years, St. Andrew's had grown in membership and under his guidance extended its outreach into the community. He was also a pivotal leader of the Jubilee Center of Hollywood, a vital outreach ministry to the homeless and hungry, and served on the Board of Directors for St. Lawrence Chapel, serving the homeless in Pompano Beach. He also served on several diocesan committees working with the youth of the diocese.


In December 2012, Father Lee was called as rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Damascus, Maryland. During his 8 year tenure there the vestry of the parish noted that "His dynamic leadership, inspired preaching, creative ideas and compassionate pastoral care combined to bring a new level of excitement, commitment, and growth among the congregation." Through his leadership, he developed partnerships with other organizations in the community, helped establish a transitional home for victim's of domestic violence, began the process of developing affordable senior housing on some of the acreages of land owned by the church, and grew stewardship achieving their first balanced budget in over a decade. At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he led the congregation into the development of an online presence and with a couple of dedicated lay members started a feeding program for families in need which continues today. He served in the Diocese of Washington DC helping in the implementation of a Diaconate Formation program as well as being on the Board of Directors of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association and serving on the Diocesan Executive Council.


Amidst the COVID pandemic, Father Lee accepted the call to be our rector and began his tenure in September 2019. His leadership has already blessed our community.

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