This November, Virginians are voting on three proposed constitutional amendments: Question 1, Question 2, and Question 3. The following email was written to the congregation of Third Church in Corey’s weekly preparation for worship email on October 1, 2026. Sign up for these emails here.

 

Dear Third family,

Most weeks, I enjoy using this weekly email to share something I couldn't fit into my previous week's sermon, or look ahead to our upcoming Sunday worship. But occasionally, I use this email to address an issue in the broader culture. Today is one of those days. Heads up! This is longer than usual :)

As you probably know, on November 3, in addition to voting for new representatives, Virginians will vote on three proposed amendments to our state constitution. They concern abortion, marriage, and voting rights. Because these amendments touch matters of deep moral significance, I wanted you to know clearly how we as Third’s pastoral leadership approach moments like this.

First of all, we encourage you to vote! Constitutional amendments are not normal legislation since they shape the fundamental law of our Commonwealth. We encourage every person to understand each amendment and what is being proposed, to discuss with others, and to prayerfully approach your vote. Voting is one way we can express our love for God and our neighbors by participating in public life.

Second, we want to remind you that the theological and ethical principles that we draw from Scripture have implications not only for our personal lives but also our public life together. Our congregation is wonderfully diverse, with people holding a wide variety of theological and ethical convictions. At the same time, we are part of a denomination with a set of Essential Tenets that guide our interpretation of Scripture and speak to some of the ethical questions raised by these amendments.

For example, our denomination clearly affirms the sanctity of all of life, affirming in the Essential Tenets that we “recognize and honor the image of God in every human being from conception to natural death.” Our church’s Session has also developed its own white paper about abortion that we use to guide our practice and witness. We believe every unborn child bears the image of God and is worthy of protection. We also believe that the church is called to surround women and families facing difficult pregnancies with tangible acts of compassion and support. We want to be a community in which no one would ever have to face a frightening pregnancy alone, and in which anyone who has experienced abortion encounters not shame or alienation but the love, grace and welcome of God and his church.

Regarding marriage, our Essential Tenets calls Christians to “maintain chastity in thought and deed, being faithful within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman as established by God at the creation or embracing a celibate life as established by Jesus in the new covenant.”  And while nothing in our Tenets directly addresses the restoration of voting rights, Christians approaching that question might draw upon the Bible’s teaching about human dignity, justice, mercy, and our responsibilities to our neighbors.

Indeed, this is true for all three issues: the whole biblical witness has much to say about the protection of the vulnerable, the meaning and practice of marriage, justice and mercy, and our responsibility for the common good.

But applying biblical convictions to particular questions of public policy in a pluralistic society is not always simple. Scripture gives us moral truths, a vision of human flourishing, and commands about how we are to love God and our neighbors; it does not ordinarily give us a direct answer to the complex legal and political questions of our own time. Moving from biblical conviction to a particular constitutional amendment therefore requires careful wisdom and discernment. It involves understanding what the amendment actually says, considering its possible consequences, weighing the goods and concerns involved, and prayerfully seeking to act in faithfulness to Christ. This is important work, and we encourage you to take it seriously as you prepare to vote. 

Some have asked if we, your pastors, will make a public statement calling our congregation to vote in a particular way. We won’t, and here’s why:

Our responsibility as your pastors is to teach Scripture faithfully. In teaching God’s Word, we will speak about the sanctity of life, marriage and sexuality, justice, poverty, race, care for immigrants and refugees, creation care, and other matters of Christian discipleship that have bearing on public policy. And then we trust you to bring those convictions prayerfully and thoughtfully into your public life. Our responsibility as your pastors is to help form your conscience according to the Word of God, not to direct your vote.

This has always been our practice, and this commitment is rooted in the Reformed tradition. One of the oldest convictions of the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition is freedom of conscience. The Westminster Confession (1643) states, “God alone is Lord of the conscience.” Our own ECO Essential Tenets repeats this exact phrase. That freedom isn't freedom from God's Word, but freedom for every Christian to be subject ultimately to God's Word rather than to the judgments of human authorities— including pastors! The church's calling therefore is to proclaim what Scripture teaches as clearly and faithfully as it can, while being careful not to bind the conscience where Scripture itself has left room for Christian wisdom and judgment.

This matters especially when Christians move from biblical conviction to questions of public policy. Our faith should profoundly shape the way we approach politics and public life. But faithful application still requires wisdom and discernment, and Christians who share important theological convictions may sometimes reach different conclusions about how those convictions should be reflected in particular laws and policies. 

Holding to this principle protects something vital within our church community. It protects your freedom to answer to Christ for your own judgments. It protects our unity as a congregation, which includes people who may share deep Christian convictions but weigh their civic application differently. And it protects our public witness by making very clear that following Jesus cannot be reduced to alignment with any political party or platform.

So here is what I would ask of you in the coming weeks: Pray for our Commonwealth and for God’s wisdom to guide us. Read the amendments carefully and seek to understand them. Talk about them with others—including, perhaps especially, people who see them differently than you do. Study the Scriptures and bring your decision before God in prayer. Any of our pastors or elders would be glad to talk with you as you discern. And then, having done that work, cast your vote prayerfully, according to a conscience formed by Scripture and accountable to Christ.

Whatever conclusions you reach, let’s commit to treat each other with the gentleness and kindness of Jesus, especially toward those who come to different conclusions than we do.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him.”  (Colossians 3:12,17)

Grace and peace,
Corey