From America 250 website :
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.
This morning, I decided to read our Declaration of Independence. I was reminded of a few things—it is a statement of separating from a political government that was not serving well the British immigrants to America. It is a statement claiming what can no longer be tolerated from the British King. It is a statement that in declaring independence the people must be willing to mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. This is a beautiful covenantal statement!
You may know, I am Mayor of the city where I live. I have taken on a responsibility to help our city be a welcoming place where people find a sense of belonging, connection and safety. The invitation is for people to connect, provide input, engage with their neighbor and communicate
with our city leaders, to not be afraid to speak up about what is on their hearts and minds. The Mayor, City Council and City staff will listen. We will do our best to listen and hear the input and concerns. I think of our city much in the same way I have thought of congregations I have
pastored—a place of belonging for all who want to be there and need to experience kindness, compassion, and the Love of God. I felt compelled by my faith to run for Mayor. By being my best self, in the position of Mayor, I can offer compassion, kindness and a listening ear to
others, I can create a better community, a better city by the way I lead and interact with people. I invite people to know and experience what it is to be a positive part of something bigger.
Over the past month, as we have been moving toward our nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I have been reflecting on what this means for communities, like the city where I am mayor, and faith communities, like the church where I engage. My wondering was fueled by Juneteenth and reflecting on the day, June 19, 1865, when all enslaved Black people were declared free. That is a day to celebrate freedom! A day when more were granted freedom, 89 years after the Declaration of Independence. July 4, 1776 represents the day 13 colonies formally separated from Great Britain, declaring their independence. July 4 is a day to celebrate a continuation of growth and understanding.
There are more freedoms and liberation that we must continue to uphold and work toward. Scripture has been around longer than our Declaration of Independence. Matthew 22:37 reminds us to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is how we lean into that covenantal statement in the Declaration of Independence. As people of faith, we do not separate who we are from how we live. As people of faith, living in community and engaging in faith communities, we have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of everyone we encounter. We have an opportunity to support the lives of others with love and resources. We have an opportunity to celebrate the freedoms we experience and work to create more celebrations of liberation for more people. We have an opportunity to give of ourselves, our resources and our sacred honor.
Blessings on you as you seek to be an engaged and faithful part of your community!