Pastors call for accountability for and repentance from representatives who participated in the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 Election
June 10, 2022

Those who continue the narrative of 'The Big Lie," like Rep Tim Burchett, must be held accountable and repent for participating
in the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

NASHVILLE -- After last night's start to the live hearings from the January 6th Select Committee, Tennessee pastors call for accountability for the elected leaders who supported the insurrection and voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Despite the dishonesty of Rep Tim Burchett in his interview with ABC News last night where he admitted he refused to watch the hearing even though he voted against certifying the 2020 election, the truth of the conspiracy surrounding January 6th put lives and our democracy at risk, and demand accountability.

"In America, voters decide who our leaders will be," said Rev. Gordon Myers, Retired Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Pastor in Arlington. "But Trump Republicans, including Representatives Diana Harshbarger, Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischman, Scott Dejarlais, Mark Green, John Rose, and Dave Kustoff from Tennessee, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to overturn the will of the people by voting against certifying the results of the election. After declaring their intent to deny the results of the election by attempting to ignore overturn the will of voters, and by continuing to promote 'The Big Lie' to this day, they continue to bear false witness to themselves and to Tennesseans.

"As a theologian, it was not lost on me that so many of those supporting, participating and excusing the deadly riot claimed to be followers of Christ, but so casually ignored the commandment, ‘you shall not bear false witness.’ It's almost impossible to conceive of something more contrary to the message of Jesus’ Gospel and His articulation that God's highest expectation of the human family is the command to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. We must support the January 6th Commission in investigating and holding to account everyone involved in this crime to ensure it never happens again and so that our elected leaders will represent the will of the people."

"No matter our color, background, or party, most of us value living in a democratic country and the freedom this provides," said Rev. Dr. Donna Whitney, Pastoral Assistant of Metropolitan Interdenominational Church of Nashville. “But the deadly Christian nationalism that was on display on January 6, 2021 is neither Christian nor patriotic. Those insurgents who stormed our Capitol on January 6 last year were lured by a false gospel promulgated by Donald Trump, and by corrupt politicians, who were determined to hold on to power they did not earn. Yet to this day, Trump Republicans continue to promulgate 'The Big Lie" and block the policies the majority of Americans support. Americans must join together across race, place and party to remove these dishonest leaders from power. We must support the January 6th Committee to hold everyone involved in attacks on our country accountable and to protect our democracy and our freedoms."

"I not only call for accountability for our elected leaders who participated in the conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election, but I also call on those leaders to repent of their support of 'The Big Lie'," said Dr. David Dark, Professor of Theology at Belmont. "Repentance isn't a defeat. It's a moral breakthrough and act of humility that benefits self and others. Although repentance is difficult work, it is an invitation to know the joy of living in the truth about ourselves and others.

"Unfortunately, Tennessee's Republican Representatives in Congress are unwilling to publicly affirm that the Big Lie is indeed a big lie. By knowingly playing along with the disinformation that incited a white supremacist terror attack on our country over a year ago, they're betraying their oath and their baptism, or in the language of our tradition, they've succumbed to the Antichrist. It's time for them to stand up and acknowledge the truth. Their fecklessness puts their constituents' lives and our democracy at risk."


Background

White Christian Nationalism symbolism on January 6th

Rep Tim Burchett's Dishonest Response to the Committee Hearings

What to know about Thursday’s public hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

About Southern Christian Coalition
The Southern Christian Coalition is a nonpartisan grassroots, ecumenical organization. Across the South, politicians use ideology in the guise of Christian theology to push policies that harm our communities and isolate us from our neighbors. We are a community of Christians, speaking up on the values of our faith.