Interfaith Council Sets Up Election Day Peace Plan

Five religious leaders in Ferndale have agreed to a joint plan to maintain order at local polling places on Election Day. The agreement, reached on October 20, involves clergy from the First Methodist Church, St. Mark’s Lutheran, the Ferndale Temple, the Washington Avenue Baptist Church, and the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The group will coordinate their presence at the three primary voting locations in town to ensure a calm atmosphere for voters.

The initiative began after a meeting of the Ferndale Interfaith Council in September. During that session, members discussed concerns about potential tensions in the months leading up to the election. The council voted to create a specific protocol for clergy presence at the polls. The plan assigns specific leaders to each of the three polling stations. Each leader will be accompanied by two volunteers from their respective congregations.

The first phase of the plan includes a briefing session scheduled for November 10. All participating clergy and volunteers will meet at the Fire Station on Main Street for the training. The session will cover basic de-escalation techniques and the specific roles of each team member. The leaders also agreed to a common communication channel to coordinate movements between sites if needed.

Rev. Alan Brooks, pastor of the First Methodist Church, stated that the group aims to be a visible but non-partisan presence. He noted that the goal is to help voters feel welcome and safe. The leaders emphasized that they will not stand in front of voters or direct them toward any particular candidate. Their role is strictly to observe and assist with minor logistical issues if they arise.

The three polling locations are the Community Center, the High School Gymnasium, and the Library Annex. The Interfaith Council divided these sites among the five groups. Two congregations will cover the Community Center, while the others will take the remaining sites. The leaders will be on site from 6:30 a.m. until the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on November 3.

A secondary aspect of the plan involves a joint statement to be released the morning of the election. The statement will remind voters of the importance of civility and will encourage neighbors to show respect regardless of their choice. The text of the statement was finalized during the October 20 meeting. It will be distributed through local social media channels and posted on the doors of the polling places.

The council will hold a final review meeting on November 15 to check on preparations. This meeting will address any last-minute questions from the volunteers. The leaders hope that their coordinated presence will set a tone of cooperation for the community. The plan is a voluntary effort funded by small donations from the participating congregations.

The next step is the distribution of identification badges to all volunteers. These badges will clearly mark the clergy as part of the interfaith team. The badges will be available for pickup at the briefing on November 10. The leaders will also collect contact information for the poll watchers assigned to each site to ensure smooth coordination.