Barrett confirmation: Christian leaders support and celebrate

By Janenne Irene Pung — Originally published in Charisma News

When the Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday October 26, charismatic Christians began celebrating. At just 48 years old, the lifetime appointment is expected to lead to decades of decisions that honour the Constitution of the United States.

When President Donald J. Trump nominated Barrett on September 26, he called her “one of our nation’s most brilliant and gifted legal minds” and “a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution.” The president also pointed out that she “will decide cases based on the text of the Constitution as written.”

“This is an outstanding development in 2020 for all Americans who believe strongly in family values and their deeply held faith,” said American Family Association president Tim Wildmon in a news release. “We congratulate Amy Coney Barrett on this achievement and look forward to her actions on the nation’s High Court.”

“It would be impossible to overstate what Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation means to Christians in America,” said Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes. “For years we have seen our freedoms slowly erode under activist judges and politicians who have no regard for our deeply held beliefs or for America’s founding Judeo-Christian principles. With Justice Barrett, the Supreme Court is now returning to its intended role as the highest judicial body in the land whose purpose is to protect our freedoms as they were originally designed in our Constitution. This appointment ensures a fully independent judiciary. It is a generational victory for our freedoms and America.”

“With a nation’s justice system being anchored by its highest court, confirmation of Amy Barrett to the Supreme Court gives the United States of America a revived opportunity to secure its destiny, and to restore God’s favour on our land,” said Dr. Paula Price, president of Price University, host of Taking IT on with Paula Price and overseer of The Congregation of the Mighty in Bixby, Oklahoma.

Barrett joins on the high court two other justices previously nominated by Trump: Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. For the past three years, Barrett has served as a circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. Trump nominated her to that post as well.

Senate Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber. Throughout the confirmation hearings, they have expressed a belief that Barrett will forge a strong path as a conservative woman of faith who opposes abortion. She is a member of People of Praise, a charismatic Catholic community that welcomes members from various Christian denominations.

“I’m proud that such a strong believer has attained this high level,” said Stephen Strang, founder of Charisma Media. “This should make all Spirit-filled Christians proud.”

Next Steps
While having the confirmation final is good news, Christian leaders are expressing continued prayers for Barrett as she takes her place among the senior justices and begins hearing cases. The court’s 2020-21 term began on October 5. It is hearing oral arguments on cases currently via teleconference.

As of October 16, the court has agreed to hear 41 cases this term, 12 of which were delayed last term because of the outbreak of COVID-19. Just last week, the court ruled to reinstate Alabama’s prohibition against curbside voting, overturning Judge Abdul Kallon’s ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

“My prayer for her is that she will act in accordance with the words of the prophet Micah: that she will do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with her God as she takes her place on our nation’s highest court,” said Greg Laurie, pastor and founder of Harvest churches in California and Hawaii, and Harvest Crusades.

“She is a woman of great faith who has proven time and time again her commitment to advancing righteousness and justice in our nation,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. “I pray God will guide her decisions during her tenure on the court and that she will judge with fairness and wisdom.”

Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of Free Chapel, said: “The Senate has confirmed a fair, honourable and highly qualified woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Amy Coney Barrett is a spectacular role model for my own daughters—and for young girls across the country—who aspire to live with a deep commitment to faith in God, a profound love for this blessed nation of ours and who desire to guarantee liberty and justice for all.”

What many Americans believe is that the Supreme Court has become too political, straying from using the Constitution as the basis for its decisions. Jeff Hunt, director of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, said the original intent of the Constitution is that it be used to interpret laws, not write them.

“Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation is a win for the American people who support our country’s founding principles of limited government, judicial restraint, separation of powers and justice for all,” he added.

Ken Harrison, chairman and CEO of Promise Keepers, said with the confirmation behind her, Justice Barrett can proceed with what she does, what she’s done as a judge for the last three years, in particular.

For Harrison, two “obvious and urgent” questions remain: “Why were her opponents so dead set against a judge committed to ruling on the basis of the meaning of the Constitution? Since when did that become controversial?”

Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, said: “I pray she remains steadfast in her commitment to Scripture and to the U.S. Constitution, as her decisions will impact Americans for generations to come. … Today is another step forward for America.”