POLITICALLY DIVERSE CONGREGATIONS ARE GETTING RARER. ONE AIMS TO ENDURE.

This California church is trying to figure out what’s “too political” for a place of worship — or whether “being political” is the whole point of the Gospel.

Persuading the Republicans, Democrats and independents in his pews to stay and pray with one another is getting more complicated, so the Rev. Jonathan Hall has lots of strategies for his congregation in Los Angeles.

When he preaches what the Bible says about the mandate to care for migrants, Hall focuses on the story of Mary and Joseph rather than modern-day wanderers. He selected a book of scripture readings that sets out specific text for every Sunday, so no one could question whether his picks were making a political statement. And when somebody tells him they think a sermon was aimed at a specific politician, he says, “That’s one way to look at it!”

Both before and after the presidential election, this has been a season of particular challenges for worshipers at Hall’s First Christian Church of North Hollywood. Theirs is a politically blended congregation, one that is trying to do what is increasingly rare and tricky for modern religious communities: hold together despite their different views...Read More