Presbytery of San José

July 3, 2025

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. We as a nation again mark the time 249 years ago when the Declaration of Independence was written and issued. Yet, there is a vast difference between patriotism and nationalism, and we ought not mix up the two.

Patriotism is what everyone ought to have towards the land of their birth and/or the land which they call home. Whether that be here in the United States, or the Philippines, or South Korea, or South Africa, there is a healthy pride of being patriotic, and out of that pride, you work and pray for making that country a little bit better.

Nationalism, on the other hand, takes patriotism and lifts up one’s country above all else, at the expense of all others, denigrates all others, and, at its worst, manifests one’s nationality as being superior, greater, and first above all else. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a Presbyterian and a Republican, called nativism (an ideology closely linked to nationalism) one of the so-called “four horsemen of the apocalypse” – the others being populism, isolationism, and protectionism. You can readily see how nationalism is almost an umbrella term for nativism, populism, isolationism, and protectionism and how they are linked one to another. When you lift up your own interests, needs, and agendas above all other nations and peoples, or when one proclaims “America First” (or choose whatever country), then you go into the dangerous territory of seeking policies and practices that diminish the personhood of those not belonging to one’s nationality, or regarded as “other.” That’s not freedom at all.

As of this writing, the U.S. Congress is poised to pass a monumental reconciliation bill that will enact much of President Trump’s domestic policy agenda. By the analysis provided by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, as well as members of the President’s own party who have expressed opposition to the bill, this legislation will imperil many who rely upon Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act for their healthcare, it adds billions more for military spending and ICE enforcement, it adds $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade due to tax cuts for the affluent in our nation. This is nationalism through policy with real-world, real-life implications. There will be no freedom celebration for many for whom bread-and-butter costs are life-and-death situations. There will be no freedom for immigrants and their loved ones who live with fear and the constant threat that they will be detained and deported to who knows where. And with the recent U.S. Supreme Court case (DHS, et al. v. D.V.D., et al.), the Trump administration is being allowed to deport noncitizens to any country. Following the Court’s decision, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said, “Fire up the deportation planes.”

The late Jürgen Moltmann (1926-2024), a Reformed theologian, wisely observed: “The truth of human freedom lies in the love that breaks down barriers.” (The Trinity and the Kingdom, p. 216)

I put Moltmann’s observation together with the second century C.E. The Epistle to Diognetus which asserted this about Christians: “Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country.” In other words, we care about our country, our home, but no place is really home for us. What enables us to live here and work and pray for a better country, while also knowing that wherever we are is being at home in the heart of God, is love. It’s because of love for God and love for our common humanity that we care deeply about what happens to immigrants, what happens to the vulnerable and marginalized. Love enables us to care for each other.

Earlier this week, I joined teaching elders Bruce Reyes-Chow, Deborah Troester, Bryan Franzen, Tom Harris, and ruling elder Robin Pugh, together with interfaith leaders, and several community members to support in accompaniment, pastoral presence, and solidarity a member of the San José community, Guillermo Medina Reyes, at a ICE detention center. Fortunately, his legal team was able to secure a last-minute temporary restraining order for a few weeks, after which point the advocacy for his freedom will continue. To be with community, to support one another, and to do so out of a clear call to care, to love, to support one another... that’s what love does, even if you don’t know the person, because love seeks to break down barriers. That is what reconciliation is. That is what freedom is. To be free is to be able to love the God who is the freest agent in the universe, and to love neighbor and stranger because of the freedom we have in God. What powers and principalities and policies do to divide, and to prevent people from flourishing in that freedom, that there is where the work of love comes. That is where love must disrupt, protest, and seek a better way for us to be community together.

May we live in and with the freedom in the love of God in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to work and pray for a world where all are free to flourish.

In Joy and Justice,

The Rev. Dr. Neal D. Presa, Executive Presbyter

(408) 763-5004 | Neal@sanjosepby.org

P.S. The Presbytery Unity Candle will be at the Daesung Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale this coming Sunday, July 6. Let us pray for our siblings at Daesung and Pastor Taejinn Hahn. As well, please be sure to register for the NEAR Gathering II, which will be at First Presbyterian Church, Mountain View on Saturday, September 6. For clergy colleagues, we have our clergy retreat on September 9-11 at St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista. And for clergy of color and CREs of color, the next Leaders of Color retreat at Zephyr will be on October 13-16.

Register for these upcoming retreats!

Above: August 4, 2024: EP Rev. Dr. Neal Presa at Daesung Presbyterian Church, Sunnyvale, with Rev. Taejin Han, Pastor; Tori Bommarito, Director of English Ministry; Elder Eric Min. Source: Neal Presa FB page

Kickoff starts at 9:45 with Community Catalyst Honors; festivities last all day. Details at https://www.rwbsj.org/

Westminster Presbyterian Church is the geographic center of the festival!

September 13: HORIZONS BIBLE STUDY DAY

Mingle with Presbyterian Women and Rev. Dr. Rhashell D. Hunter, author of the 2025-26 study

Horizons Bible Study Day with Rev. Dr. Rhashell D. Hunter received financial sponsorship from the Presbytery of San José.

The excitement is growing at First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View (FPCMV), the only host site from San Francisco to San José for the Global Leadership Summit (GLS). Pastor Kim Dorr-Tilley was recently interviewed by the Los Altos Town Crier to share her vision for hosting the Summit. Click here to read the article

With the dates August 7–8 only five weeks away, now is the time to register. Discounts of $70 off the public price will be in effect July 7 – 16 for staff, pastors, and elders in the presbytery. Good news—your partner promo code may now be shared with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Even lower prices remain for first responders, nurses, military personnel, high school or college faculty members, and students (ages 14-23). Go to https://www.fpcmv.org/events/gls/ for information and to register--using the partner promo code 25PARTNER near the end of the registration process.

FPCMV is one of more than 350 locations across the U.S. hosting the GLS, with an expected attendance of 60,000 nationwide. With this year’s theme, “Lead Where You Are,” the Summit will inspire and equip individuals to lead with purpose — regardless of their role or setting.

Seen on Linkedin...

The Board of Pensions Assistance Program offers emergency grants to eligible members that provide financial relief following a natural disaster or unexpected need. Learn about Emergency Assistance grants today: https://bit.ly/3yuILkq

Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency Rev. Jihyun Oh draws distinctions between secular leadership that seeks to create "a society in which power matters more than truth" and the values PC(USA) embodies, promising that our church "will continue to stand with and for the most vulnerable among us." Read her July 1 letter here.

Confronting White Christian Nationalism

A white paper prepared by GACEIR (General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations) was released late June. It contains a FAQ and a liturgy.

Sallie Watson, Associate Director for Mid Council Relations, wrote, "The Presbytery of Northumberland recently voted unanimously to take a stand against Christian Nationalism. Here’s an article about it. Also recently, the Shepherding Council of the Presbytery of Long Island produced a statement of faith to reflect their stance as a presbytery. Congratulations to both for taking a stand and for articulating it so beautifully."

7-8 Aug, Global Leadership Summit, First Pres. Mountain View.

11 Aug, Trauma-Informed Advent Planning at SF Theological Seminary.

23 Aug, Soul Shop for Faith Leaders, Zephyr Point NV

30-31 Aug, Silicon Valley Pride, Caesar Chavez Park SJ

6 Sept, 8:30am-1:30pm N.E.A.R. Gathering at First Pres Mountain View.

6 Sept, 2-4pm Open House at Immanuel House in San Jose.

13 Sept, Horizons Bible Study at Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek.

9-11 Sept, Fall 2025 Clergy Retreat for all Teaching Elders.

13-16 Oct, Leaders of Color Retreat at Zephyr Point.

www.sanjosepby.org

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