I am an American: Rev. Rennie Salata

• Want to nominate someone? See details at end of story.

Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about the American profiled here and more average Americans doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com.

Among the casualties of the 2016 election, civility — even among Christians — topped the list.

And that deeply bothered the Rev. Rennie Salata, who acknowledged that he found it difficult at times to embody Christ’s admonition to love your enemies and bless those who persecute you.

“Jesus does this in a way I only aspire to do,” said Salata, the pastor of Acton United Methodist Church in Candler, North Carolina. “He’s able to love his enemies while at the same time confronting them where they’re supporting injustice or oppression, and I admit I have not figured out how to do that.”

But he also refused to give up.

As a small step toward reconciliation and healing, Salata, with the help of several other pastors, organized an Election Day Communion service that was open to anyone.

About 40 people attended that evening.

Church member Diana Corbin attended the special service, describing it as “very moving” and sorely needed.

“We need to put our faith in God and believe that he will take care of us, regardless of who is in office,” said Corbin, 66. 

A native of Louisiana who grew up outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, Salata, 32, earned his divinity degree from Duke University and was ordained in 2015. 

His approach involves a “subtle determination” to reach his flock, as Salata puts it. The idea is to hash out different perspectives, and then journey to understand what God is inviting them to see.

“Perhaps it might be neither of the positions that’s being offered but a third way, really, that God is calling us into,” said Salata, who came to Acton in July 2015 with his wife, Lauren.

He plans to extend that reach to include the Islamic community by bringing in a speaker from that  group later this year. With other pastors, Salata also plans to organize a “pilgrimage of reconciliation,” the idea being “to put ourselves physically in different context than what we’re used to” and get out into parts of the community we’re not familiar with.

What does it mean to you to be an American?

For me, being an American is being part of something that is larger than an individual or even a national interest; it’s being part of a larger experiment of democracy. One where even in a country where the majority of the people voted for one candidate, the other candidate who has been declared the winner by our democratic process is going to peacefully transition into power. That’s rare and maybe even unprecedented around the world.

What moment touched and motivated you to take part in this effort?

There wasn’t any one specific event or statement or altercation that motivated us having this service. But ... as the election season wore on and things became more and more vitriolic and tense and heated, and more and more families were being at odds with one another because of the election options, it seemed like it was even more appropriate to have a time when we could come together and pray and share communion and really remember what it is that unites us.

What gives you hope?

First and foremost, as a Christian and as a pastor, my hope is in Jesus Christ. ... But what gives me hope in the immediate, and perhaps in a concrete way, is the ways in which I’ve seen members of my congregation who are on diametrically opposed ends of the political spectrum really respect and support one another in the midst of the outcome of the election. 

What did you hope to accomplish with that effort?

I hoped and I think we were successful in accomplishing the beginning of dialogue and also an opportunity for people to really look around and find some points of unity in the midst of such division. I hope that this will be a stepping-off point for my congregation and for this community. ... I’d like to explore the possibility of having some public dialogue with a member of the Muslim faith, maybe even in concert with a member of the Jewish community. I’ve also talked with a another pastor about the possibility of doing a sort of reconciliation pilgrimage where we travel to different sites ... and just put ourselves in places where those we may not normally interact with live.

Nominate an American

Who are your American heroes? Share stories and nominees at onenation.usatoday.com or via email to onenation@usatoday.com or post a video submission to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram (no longer than 2 minutes, please) with the hashtags #IAmAnAmerican #WeAreOneNation.