Weekly Outlook - Theology in Trump’s America

Dear readers, My paternal grandparents lived in the same red brick ranch house in Butler, Pennsylvania, for roughly 50 years. I have childhood memories of attending the Butler County Fair with them, of driving past the fairgrounds on our way to their house. Even now, when I miss my grandparents, I will drive the hour from Pittsburgh for an ice cream cone at King Cone's Castle, located catty-corner to the fairgrounds. Those spaces will now be known as the location of former President Trump's attempted assassination — and where father, husband and firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed alongside the 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks. The news cycle has moved fast this week, jumping from the attempted assassination to Trump's selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate and the other Republican National Convention news. It's easy for me to let the shooting go and focus on other things. But that's not the case for the people who were terrorized at the rally, for those who were injured, for loved ones left with grief and large questions. It's not the case for those living in Butler.  I am left without words, but I have been watching what other people are saying, leading to difficult questions. Did God save Trump? Is there such a thing as divine providence? I find myself dwelling on Shane Claiborne's opinion piece. God is love, Claiborne writes, and did not save Trump while letting Comperatore die. "The recent assassination attempt should cause us to consider how combustible our country is right now, so divided, so angry, so fearful. It should cause those of us who believe in God to take a closer look at our theology," he adds. Regardless of our thoughts on gun control, who we are voting for in November or if we live close to a site of violence, we were all implicated Saturday night. And I need to sit with that. I invite you to join me.  Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor P.S. Speaking of the RNC, if you are watching the news and thinking about migration this week, you might want to add Anton Ahrens' piece on the PC(USA)'s new Mesoamerican Mission Network to your reflections.

God did not save Donald Trump by Shane Claiborne From despair to hope: Mobilizing your church to end gun violence by Deanna Hollas The top 10 stories from GA by Presbyterian Outlook The Barmen Declaration and the far-right evangelical culture war by David W. Congdon In case you missed it... Faith leaders, politicians invoke God’s protection for Trump in wake of shooting Many also asked for prayers for the country as a whole and the polarized political landscape. — Paul O’Donnell #GA226 triumphs and icks Bethany Peerbolte interviewed the #GA226 Young Adult Advisory Delegates about what they believe is the PC(USA)'s greatest triumphs and where there is still room to grow. Five faith facts about Trump’s VP pick, JD Vance If Trump is elected, Vance would be the second Catholic vice president in US history — after Joe Biden. — RNS Migration, faith and community in the Mesoamerican Mission Network A new PC(USA) mission network focuses on migrants leaving Central America for the United States. Anton Ahrens writes about the network's launch. McCormick Theological Seminary Names Rev. Dr. Maisha I. Handy as its 12th President Rev. Dr. Handy becomes McCormick’s first African American president, succeeding newly retired David Crawford. — MTS PC(USA) national offices unification: What’s next? General Assembly 226 passes unifying budget paving the way for October report. — Gregg Brekke Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope through Grief That is what this book is ultimately about: becoming a person fully alive; present to creation and present to other human beings, particularly those who are suffering. — Roy Howard Acting Stated Clerk condemns violence at Trump rally Bronwen Boswell calls for a peaceful political season. — PNS