During the four years of his presidency, Jimmy Carter was an active member of the First Baptist Church in the City of Washington, DC; He had worshiped at least 75 times in the sanctuary a mile north of the White House and led Bible studies with the church’s Couples Class on at least 17 Sundays. .

President Carter joined First Baptist DC three days after his inauguration in January 1977; This meant that members of the community voted among themselves in the 1980 presidential election.

Carter suffered a crushing defeat to Ronald Reagan on November 4, 1980. The defeat triggered Christian anxiety in Carter’s church family; They responded not with a casserole but with another vote. The church’s top leader announced the results on Nov. 16, 1980, just before Carter stepped up to the pulpit to lead a Sunday school class.

“Last Wednesday evening At our quarterly business meeting, members of our church reached a unanimous decision, said moderator Frank Ed McAnear. “This message is titled ‘Message of Love and Support to President and Mrs. Carter.’ And I would love to read it for you right now.

McAnear read a five-paragraph message that included two unmistakable points: 100% of First Baptist DC members supported Carter as a brother in Christ, and far fewer than 100% supported him as president. But the message was expressed very well.

100% of First Baptist DC members supported Carter as a fellow believer in Jesus, and far fewer than 100% supported him as president

To be clear, Carter did not campaign in church. Indeed, in the 14 known recordings of his lectures in Couples Class, he rarely mentioned events related to his presidency, let alone politics. The only reference to a campaign came at the end of a lecture on 24 September 1978, and was expressed with the sardonic humor he regularly used. In it he summarized Philippians 4:19.

“God will meet all your needs “Jesus is redeemed from his infinite riches in glory through Jesus,” Carter said. “That’s a good word. That’s a good campaign slogan, right? “It’s so good that a lot of people don’t believe it, but we know it’s true.”

A little more than two years later, the defeated president accepted First Baptist’s endorsement decision with confidence and more humor: “I’m not going to get emotional because we’re going to be here for another two months and I can’t take it anymore. long,” he said, and then paused.

“It’s always remarkable when Baptists pass something unanimously,” he said with a laugh. “This makes a beautiful message and announcement even more valuable to us because of its rarity.”

Carter later continued teaching The penultimate Sunday School lesson is from Luke 5 and is titled “Grace for Sinners.”

As for the congregation’s message, Carter wrote a formal note of thanks to First Baptist members on November 25, 1980, two days before Thanksgiving. A copy bearing the president’s distinctive signature filled the first page of the church newsletter on Christmas Eve 1980:

Rosalynn joins me in thanking you for your thoughtful message. We highly value the friendship and camaraderie we have enjoyed with you over the past four years.

Your support through prayer and the ‘ties that bind our hearts to Christian love’ will be remembered, along with your many acts of kindness, long after we return home to Georgia.

With our warmest regards to each of you, Sincerely, Jimmy Carter.

Message of love and support to President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter

Almost four years ago, you were here with us as fellow members of the body of Christ. Although none of us has realized the terrible burden of your public duty, we have all joined in a constant fellowship of prayer for you, for our nation’s first family, for you and for the members of our congregation. This love and care continues to this day.

We wanted to share with you the sources of faith and devotion to a cause that transcends all political parties: the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ. As good Baptists, we recognize that our freedom to differ politically does not negate the more fundamental Christian commitment we all share. You have brought to our various congregations an appreciation for the existence of Christian brothers and sisters who are committed to political leadership in the nation.

Now, none of us can imagine the feelings in our hearts after the election, but still we all – faithful citizens of many political persuasions – understand the meaning of the apostle’s command to “bear each other’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of God.” Oh my god.

That’s why we want to say simply and directly that our love and prayerful support is with you. Even those who differ from you on political issues will value our association with you during these years and promise to work constantly with you in spreading the gospel of our Lord.

We pray for you and for ourselves that we may have the peace that surpasses understanding and the joy that can ease each day in Christ our Lord.

Your friends and partners in the gospel,

First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC

Christi Harlan is the author Mr. President, the Class is YoursContaining the first transcripts of 14 Sunday school lessons taught by Jimmy Carter at First Baptist DC. The next book Normal Lives: President Jimmy Carter’s ChurchUsing interviews, current news reports, and a church usher’s diary, First Baptist tells the stories of a president and the people who shared his pews. Coming soon to your favorite bookstores.