"The Lenses of Reformation Concerning Redistricting"
by Dr. Patti Amsden
God sets people in specific areas, territories, or boundaries within the earth (Acts 17:26). This principle is confirmed as Moses and Joshua divided up the promised land to the twelve tribes according to the will of the Lord. Each tribe was given a specific area, which included the natural resources innate within the earth. People living together in a common area are, in part, unified by their family’s historic roots but also by their common skills in utilization of the resources of the territory to procure their living.
Reformation lens #1 – Populations within territories represent more than census or the number of persons living in the area but also represent shared values, cooperative skill sets, and unified purposes.
God sets representational government as a way for those within a specified or unified area to have a voice in their governance. After the conquest and dividing of the land in Joshua’s day, the leaders of each tribe represented the individuals or families in their territory. Recall also that Moses set judges in place on various tiers not only to ensure a court of appeals when needed but also to ensure that everyone had representation. The New Testament recounts the selection of deacons in the early church and communicates that the widows chose their deacons. This process insured accurate representation of the needs of each group of widows. (Acts 6:1-7)
Reformation lens #2 – A representative of a territory carries the needs, the values, and thus the voice of the population of the territory.
Gerrymandering is the reordering of territorial boundary lines to either strengthen or weaken the voice of the area’s population for political expediency. If the needs, values, and voice of the group are harmonious with a political platform and those candidates, lines are drawn to keep the territory together so as to secure a voting majority in harmony with the political agenda. If the needs, values, and voice of the territory’s population are contrary to the party drawing the district lines, new boundaries are set to break apart the demographic and weaken the voice of the group who have common roots and common goals. Gerrymandering is unconstitutional and unbiblical.
Reformation lens #3 – In gerrymandering, the politicians or representatives pick the voters rather than the voters picking their representatives.
As reformers, we must honor the value of each person and foster policies that liberate each people group for just and equal representation. Although growing or shifting population necessitates redistricting to ensure that each elected official represents approximately the same number of constituents, care must be taken that new lines of demarcation do not divide common voices. If an area is predominantly of one race, that race needs to be represented according to their collective goals and values rather than the agenda of a political party. Recall that deacons were chosen by the widows to represent the needs of that group of widows. Elected representatives must oversee and protect the good of their constituents in order for representative governance to accomplish its intended aim. To this end, redistricting should be done outside of the context of a single ruling political party and in the context of all parties equally forming the committee who sets the district lines.
Reformation lens #1 – Populations within territories represent more than census or the number of persons living in the area but also represent shared values, cooperative skill sets, and unified purposes.
God sets representational government as a way for those within a specified or unified area to have a voice in their governance. After the conquest and dividing of the land in Joshua’s day, the leaders of each tribe represented the individuals or families in their territory. Recall also that Moses set judges in place on various tiers not only to ensure a court of appeals when needed but also to ensure that everyone had representation. The New Testament recounts the selection of deacons in the early church and communicates that the widows chose their deacons. This process insured accurate representation of the needs of each group of widows. (Acts 6:1-7)
Reformation lens #2 – A representative of a territory carries the needs, the values, and thus the voice of the population of the territory.
Gerrymandering is the reordering of territorial boundary lines to either strengthen or weaken the voice of the area’s population for political expediency. If the needs, values, and voice of the group are harmonious with a political platform and those candidates, lines are drawn to keep the territory together so as to secure a voting majority in harmony with the political agenda. If the needs, values, and voice of the territory’s population are contrary to the party drawing the district lines, new boundaries are set to break apart the demographic and weaken the voice of the group who have common roots and common goals. Gerrymandering is unconstitutional and unbiblical.
Reformation lens #3 – In gerrymandering, the politicians or representatives pick the voters rather than the voters picking their representatives.
As reformers, we must honor the value of each person and foster policies that liberate each people group for just and equal representation. Although growing or shifting population necessitates redistricting to ensure that each elected official represents approximately the same number of constituents, care must be taken that new lines of demarcation do not divide common voices. If an area is predominantly of one race, that race needs to be represented according to their collective goals and values rather than the agenda of a political party. Recall that deacons were chosen by the widows to represent the needs of that group of widows. Elected representatives must oversee and protect the good of their constituents in order for representative governance to accomplish its intended aim. To this end, redistricting should be done outside of the context of a single ruling political party and in the context of all parties equally forming the committee who sets the district lines.