In the run up to the last presidential election here in the states, the Republican National Convention did something very common, it closed with prayer. Civic events often have some kind of religious element to them. We know that legislative sessions often open and close with prayer, sometimes to the chagrin of those who would rather none be offered. The Democratic National Convention also closed their sessions with prayer in 2024. This is common, whether or not people like it. 

On that first night a pastor from my own synod offered the first of two benedictions. He was welcomed to the stage, made a light hearted joke about how blessed everyone was about to be in his best Trump impression, and then made the sign of the cross. He prayed against the violence that had befallen President Trump, he prayed for protection in the days and weeks ahead, he prayed for wisdom, justice, and peace. He prayed for thankful hearts in times of calm and for trust in times of trouble. After closing in the name of Jesus he held up a cross and spoke the words over the RNC that I speak every week over God’s people gathered around word and sacrament—The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious unto you, the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen. Familiar words to God’s people spoken in the midst of a civic event. 

Following the pastor, the RNC Committee chair from California came forward also to offer a benediction. Harmeet Dhillon is from a Sikh immigrant family as she told the crowd. They have a tradition of praying what she referred to as the Ardas Prayer which she wanted to share with those in attendance. She covered her head out of respect as is commensurate with her faith tradition and then chanted that prayer in the language it was intended to be chanted. She also then spoke in English, praying to god and thanking god for the establishment of America among other things. When she finished the evening session came to a close. You can watch the footage of both people here: https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2024/republican-national-convention-day-1-evening-session/644645 (Rev. James Roemke: 03:48:51; Harmeet Dhillon: 03:51:42)

In the days that followed the event I expected to hear of charges brought against Rev. James Roemke because in our church body there has been more than one time that a pastor, on a very public stage, has offered a prayer as one voice among many. The most famous of these cases occurred in Newtown Connecticut after the Sandy Hook Shooting and in Yankee Stadium following the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Both pastors in the wake of tragedy, in the aftermath of events that were anything but common, refused to yield the stage and the microphone to voices that (at least as we are concerned) do not speak the full-throated Gospel of Christ crucified and risen, defeating sin, death, and the powers of hell. I waited because I knew that Pastor Roemke spoke words so near and dear to those who gather to receive God’s gifts. I waited, because I know how swift the reprisals can be when there are hints of unionism (giving the appearance that all Christians believe the same thing) or syncretism (giving the appearance that all religions lead to the same god). I waited, but I heard nothing. As I’ve come to know the story, Rev. Roemke was unaware that someone would follow. Perhaps that’s why I heard nothing further. 

That doesn’t mean that nothing happened, it just means that I didn’t hear of it. I’m still surprised by that fact, though, because in the days following the 25th anniversary of 9/11 Bishop Dave Benke, the man accused of both unionism and syncretism because he prayed at Yankee Stadium, is still catching flack for it. 

As common as prayer is at the RNC, or singing hymns with Christians and non-believers at Marches for Life, has become, Yankee Stadium was a once in a lifetime event. At least, I pray it is. I remember watching the towers fall safely from my home outside Chicago, the people gathered together in that stadium watched more than falling towers, they watched their loved ones die.The chaos that followed the terrorist attacks on 9/11 cannot be underestimated by any account. Initial estimates believed that there were tens of thousands who perished when the towers collapsed. It is only because of those first responders and the kindness and generosity of those within the building that the number is far below that initial estimate. Twelve days after the towers fell, a once in a lifetime event, people still did not know the final tally. People in that stadium did not know what had happened. They were broken. They were hurting. 

The event was not called for by the religious leaders, it was called for by the mayor, Rudy Giuliani. Those who participated ranged from real celebrities like Oprah to ones only known in smaller circles, like the bishop of the Atlantic District. The music was a mix of secular, patriotic, and sacred. Prayers and speeches were offered for and by those of virtually every race, creed and color. You can watch the whole thing here: https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/new-york-city-september-11-prayer-service-2001/108827 (Rev. David Benke 02:45:50). 

When Bishop Benke took the platform he spoke about love, about how there is strength in love because of where love comes from, God himself. He turned the now famous phrase as he invited people to grab hands in, “this field of dreams turned into God’s house of prayer.”

He prayed the following: 

O Lord, our God, we are leaning on You today. You are our tower of strength, and we are leaning on You. You are our mighty fortress, our rock; in You we stand. Those of us who bear the name of Christ know that You stood so tall when You stooped down to send Your Son through death and life to bring us back together, and we lean on You today. O Tower of Strength, be with those who mourn the loss of loved ones. Bring them closer to us day by day.

O Heavenly Father, we pray at this time that You might extend Jacob’s ladder to those who ascended the stairways to save us, as others escaped the fire and flames. O Tower of Strength, open the innocent and victimized hearts of the sacrifices of the innocent one. Pour out Your consolation upon the traumatized, especially our children. O Heavenly Father, un-bind, un-tie, un-scorch, and un-sear our souls. Renew us in Your free Spirit. We are leaning on You, tower of strength. We find our refuge in the shadow of Your shelter.

Lead us from this place strong to bring forth the power of Your love wherever we are. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen. 

After he closes in the precious name of Jesus, he cedes the stage to Oprah. Tower of strength, a theme from a hymn well known to Lutherans like Bishop Benke who had grown up in the LCMS, one that has like so many others been translated through the work of Catherine Winkworth. “Thee Will I love, My Strength My Tower.” 

Thee will I love, my strength, my tower;
Thee will I love, my hope, my joy.
Thee will I love with all my power,
With ardor time shall ne’er destroy.
Thee will I love, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine. 

Thee will I love, my life, my Savior,
Who art my best and truest friend.
Thee will I love and praise forever,
For never shall Thy kindness end.
Thee will I love with all my heart–
Thou my Redeemer art! 

I thank Thee, Jesus, Sun from heaven,
Whose radiance hath brought light to me;
I thank Thee, who hast richly given
All that could make me glad and free;
I thank Thee that my soul is healed
By what Thy lips revealed. 

O keep me watchful, then, and humble;
Permit me nevermore to stray.
Uphold me when my feet would stumble,
And keep me on the narrow way.
Fill all my nature with Thy light,
O Radiance strong and bright! 

Thee will I love, my crown of gladness;
Thee will I love, my God and Lord,
Amid the darkest depths of sadness,
And not for hope of high reward,
For Thine own sake, O Light divine,
So long as life is mine.

With the other obvious references to the rich hymnody of the Lutheran tradition and the imagery known to those familiar with the sacred writings of the prophetic and apostolic scriptures, Bishop Benke did the only thing he could do, entrusted the heartbroken to the one whose death pierced the heart of his mother. Bishop Benke invoked in the midst of death and devastation the first fruits of the resurrection and restoration of all things. 

He would return to his work of weeping with the grieving families, of providing relief in the form of mercy work to those who lost more than can often be imagined, of being a pastor to people in the wake of a once in a lifetime tragedy. He would also be brought up on charges of heresy for praying that prayer, for commending people to Jesus, for, in a phrase borrowed from one of my alma maters, “standing at the crossroads of history and hope.” 

Eventually, he was convicted and subsequently pardoned of those charges. If you want to hear him tell the story you can listen to him tell it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx0vpXVLrxs or, better yet, you can pick up a copy of his memoir here: https://alpb.org/product/its-ok-to-pray/ I wholeheartedly and unreservedly endorse the reading of this book. It is worth reading if for no other reason than to see the juxtaposition between the blood, sweat, and tears he poured out in the pastoral work he carried out in a shattered city and the maneuvers that made his blood boil back in the midwestern headquarters of the denomination he served alongside.

The title, It’s OK to Pray, is a slogan used during the heresy trials he endured that is more than a slogan. It is a theological truism. It is in fact OK to pray, in general, in particular, in every time and circumstance. As I say often, “It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks to you Holy Lord, Almighty and Everlasting God, for the countless blessings you so freely bestow on us…” Yes, it is a truism to be remembered in all common moments and civic ones, whether those are a March for Life, a national convention, or the blanket and pillow that belong to you. 

But, it is also ok, more than ok, to pray, in the aftermath of once in a lifetime moments at civic events aimed at bringing hope. That was the point, to give hope to the hurting. What other choice is there? Maintain the illusion of purity by not sharing a stage? Do we not think that people are capable of ascertaining that religious people from various denominations or affiliations do not all agree? What does it cost us to absent ourselves? It costs us a chance; it costs us an opportunity. When we don’t show up we yield the microphone to those whose versions of hope we would take issue with. Civic events are what they are. Life is what it is. But the Gospel of Hope is unique, it is anything but common, and it is more than OK to pray in those spaces because in prayer hope has a name, it has a person. Benke didn’t pray in the name of some random God, he prayed in the precious name of Jesus, having spent the entirety of the prayer riffing on the theme of a strong tower, riffing on the hymnody and scripture that sustained him and he knew would be the only hope worth offering. It was OK to pray then. It is still OK that he did so. In fact, I would say it is more than OK because that was the opportunity to bring hope and truth to a moment bereft of both.