A Pastoral Letter from the Senior Minister
Aloha Central Union ‘ohana,
It is a strange and sobering time to be a person of faith. In recent weeks, our headlines have been filled with a jarring public clash between the White House and the Holy See – a collision between the highest office of our nation and the moral leadership of the global church.
When we hear a President label the Pope “weak” for prioritizing peace, or see military leaders attempt to reframe the Gospel to justify “overwhelming violence of action,” we are no longer just talking about policy. We are witnessing a struggle for the very meaning of the Cross and the very heart of our faith. In response to this moment, I want to share a reflection from my sermon this past Sunday that strikes at the heart of our calling:
“We are living in a time when Christianity is treated as an identity instead of a way of life, a label instead of a love, and a slogan instead of a sacrifice. In our current moment, faith is often used to claim power rather than to practice humility.
We see a world where those in power try to preach to prophets and those who hold the purse try to dictate the prayer. We see people in palaces lecturing the Pope and those who command armies trying to explain theology to those who follow the disciples. They tell us that might is right, that war is worship, and that dominance is discipleship. They try to tell the church that the Gospel must bow to the state and that the Cross must be draped in the colors of conflict.   But Jesus quietly refuses that version of Christianity. Jesus does not build an empire; he builds a community. He does not train soldiers; he forms servants. He does not demand allegiance to an ideology or a cult; he invites people into a way of love.”
 
The Big Tent and the Narrow Path
At Central Union, we are often described as a “Big Tent” church. This isn’t just about our architecture; it is a theological commitment to journey together through a vast diversity of experiences, opinions, perspectives, and life stories. We recognize that our ‘ohana is made up of people who see the world through many different lenses, and we cherish the strength that comes from staying at the table together.
However, being a “Big Tent” church does not mean we lack a foundation. While we do not take sides in partisan politics or endorse candidates, we are never neutral when it comes to the Gospel. We take Jesus’ call to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves with the utmost seriousness.
Policy vs. Principle
That mandate—to love our neighbor—requires us to be courageous. It means that while we welcome all journeys under our tent, we must also challenge any policy, rhetoric, or movement that would harm or diminish the humanity of our neighbors or the integrity of God’s creation.
When the Pope reminds us that “God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” he is not being “political” in the partisan sense; he is being faithful to the Prince of Peace. As the church, the Body of Christ, our “lane” is exactly where the suffering, the hungry, the refugee, and the victim of conflict reside. We refuse to let the Cross be co-opted by the colors of conflict because our primary allegiance is to a Way of Love that transcends every border.
 
A Community of the Way
In this season of high-decibel conflict, the world wants us to retreat into our ideological corners and snipe at each other. The “Big Tent” and the cross offer a different way. They invite us to:
  • Embrace the Tension: To value our neighbor’s story even (and especially) when we disagree with their politics or their belief systems.
  • Embody Service: To remember that true strength in the Kingdom of God is found in washing feet, not in flexing military muscle.
  • Protect the Vulnerable: To stand firm against any ideology that treats people as pawns or creation as a commodity.
Jesus didn’t give us a manifesto; he gave us a community. He didn’t ask us to be right; he asked us to be relational. As we navigate these turbulent waters in these days, let us hold fast to one another. Let us keep our tent wide and our hearts open, remembering that we follow a Savior who does not build empires, but invites us into a life of service and a love that can change the world.
In gratitude for our mutual ministry,
Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray
Senior Minister