Where are the Anglican voices on tariffs, trade, and Trump?

Longtime faith columnist & reporter with the Winnipeg Free Press, John Longhurst, recently revisited a March, 2025 a column he wrote asking why faith groups were silent about Trump’s trade war and tariffs. “In light of the failed negotiations yesterday, (Sunday, August 23, 2026) I wonder if some groups might step up now. Or we will once again have to ask, like my friend, ‘what the hell is it with the church?’”, John writes.

Let’s give it a day or so to monitor response, but I doubt my own Anglican community will wade into the trade impasse conversation. We tend to applaud United Church leaders when they speak truth to power; we seem to leave it to them for some reason. Anglicans are reticent to speak controversially, at least since the days of primates Ted Scott and Michael Peers. That’s too bad, as learned, experienced and courageous voices are needed right now.

While I have yet to find a Canadian who opposes our Prime Minister’s decision to evacuate the Washington negotiations, there are more than a few who will oppose retaliatory measures, “dollar for dollar,” the PM said, especially those who follow the Premier of Alberta. Energy and angst are rising with equal intensity. Regardless of political persuasion, Canadians could benefit from the addition of a moral and spiritual perspective in public national and international conversations. In such public conversations it is interesting to ask who is not participating in these dialogues. Too often, the answer is the church.

Back to John’s question: What the hell is it with church leaders? Former Archbishop of Canterbury and Master of Magdelene College, Cambridge, Dr. Rowan Williams argues in  Faith in the Public Square (2012) that the Church occupies a legitimate and necessary place in public political discourse. He writes succinctly and forcibly: “How do we live in a way that shows an understanding that we genuinely live in a shared world, not one that simply belongs to us?” In other words, with other faith traditions the Christian Tradition  possess wisdom and experience that deserves to be shared widely and publicly in times of crisis and challenge.

Donald Trump, his administration, countless terrified Republicans, his faltering though still present MAGA political base, white nationalist (so-identified) Christian churches, rightwing media, corporate oligarchs, gutless jurists, and an endless parade of sycophantic opportunists have absolutely no interest in a lifestyle dedicated to a shared world; they have no interest in working within a network of relationships built on respect, trust, and creativity. Followers of Jesus believe differently, though many still seem reluctant to put such understanding into voice and practice.

One glorious exception to this abstinence is the Bishop of Washington (DC), the Rt. Rev. Marian Budde, whose carefully phrased suggestion to President Trump following his inauguration that he modify his approach to immigrant populations, an advocacy that fell on deaf (if not slumbering) ears. Bishop Budde has become an icon for many in the US and internationally. She exudes and embodies bravery.

In Canada, many public commentators have taken the president on, chiefly Charlie Angus (The Resistance); Andrew Coyne; and Bob Rae. Whether seeking the expulsion of US Ambassador, Pete Roekstra; in supporting the Prime Minister’s abandonment of the current round of trade talks; whether supporting retaliatory measures, I am encouraged by these authors. But again, where are the church or spiritual voices?

It is time to see how the Church, and most important for me, the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) finds its voice in public matters including global and bi-lateral trade; also in providing support and encouragement for those most affected by tariffs; in identifying sectors most affected including heavy industry, farming and agriculture, and energy production and distribution. We have an office of Public Witness which I hope will communicate with Anglicans and Canada as a whole. Friends, this could well be your finest hour.

I am grateful that the Bishop of Edmonton, the Rt. Rev. Stephen London has spoken in support of striking Nurses and health care in Alberta. The late Dennis Drainville, onetime Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Quebec was vocal on justice matters, even sitting as an NDP MP for a parliamentary session. Historically, prairie voices were constant and shrill in their cry for justice, including Ben Smilie (United Church of Canada) and Bob Ogle (Roman Catholic Church). More recently, some bishops and church leaders have been vocal and influential on matters of social inclusion — LGBTQ2SI+ persons and communities; also some have given strong leadership around Indigenous/settler reconciliation by supporting the emergence of a fully Indigenous Church within the ACC. We seem however to have assigned economic and environmental matters to agencies such as KAIROS and the Canadian Council of Churches. This is a serious loss to our witness.

Part of our current problem is that we are looking inward at almost every level. As the Anglican Church of Canada restructures itself it is assumed that matters previously dealt with at the national level will now devolve to provinces and dioceses. Work previously supported by General Synod staff must now be taken up by volunteers scattered across Canada. Such a scheme may work in places where substantial human and fiscal resources still exist. Elsewhere, coordinated and effective response is unknown. Time will tell.

In my experience, Anglicans still seem reluctant to enter the political fray. Yet we must, especially now. We are most accomplished in producing articles, sermons, policies, and reflections which delight the spirit and deepen the faith of those motivated to pursue both Spirit and Wisdom. That’s great — I may have produced some of my own over the years. We are less able to shape a vision of a political, social, and environmental future grounded in a desire for peace and integrated community, humanity within creation. In working for such ambitions we can shape the world in which we live, and move, and have our being.

Please, please, prove me wrong. Let’s hear from leaders and followers alike. What can faith in Jesus suggest to a rather desperate world? How will you find your own voice? What Indigenous voices can we turn to now? Wab Kinew, a deeply spiritual leader? Absolutely.  Charlie Angus? A passionate advocate? Absolutely. To lay and clergy leaders at all levels of our Anglican community? Absolutely.

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