No matter who wins the November 5 election, especially in a place where we all rely on each other every day, we’re going to need to find a way to get along and move ahead.
With that in mind, the Cobleskill United Methodist Church will be hosting a free, non-partisan workshop on Saturday, October 19, intended to “teach skills for having political conversations across the divide.”
The 9am-noon workshop is being presented by Braver Angels of the Capital District.
They’ve already been at the UMC for an in-congregation session and with the clock ticking down on the election—and what comes afterwards—Rev. Anna Blinn Cole said it seemed like a good time to open the discussion up to the community.
“Even if just five people come, it’s a start,” she said.
“Schoharie County isn’t immune to deep political divisions”—a point made on the UMC’s own Chapel Street with banners for “Harris, Waltz, Obviously” hanging across from those for “Trump 2024”and “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted for Trump.”
Out front of the UMC?
“Hold America Together.”
“In many ways, we’ve forgotten how to have productive political discussions,” Rev Blinn Cole said.
“We see this as a way to start people talking. Without the rhetoric, they may find they have more in common then they realize.”
Braver Angels was formed after the 2016 election to help repair that breach and “bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic.”
Participants aren’t asked to self identify as either Democratic or Republican—but Rev. Blinn Cole said they will be asked to put their emotions aside and look inside to see how they may be contributing to that polarization.
“Once we can see humanity in the other side and see why they’ve come to their positions—even if they’re not ours—and start building those relationships, in-person I think progress is possible,” she said.
Rev Blinn Cole is the first to point out those discussions are hard work, “but I believe it has to start here,” she said.
With that in mind, she’s reached out to all of her clergy colleagues in the community, extending an invitation to their congregations; everyone is welcome.
The workshop is free, but pre-registration is requested at https://tinyurl.com/ymsv4shw.
Call the church office for more information, (518) 234-3671.