Members leaving over political differences pose a challenge for Los Angeles church's neutrality.

Some members of a Los Angeles church are leaving due to disagreements over political balance.

According to a report by The Washington Post, Rev. Jonathan Hall has been trying to determine whether being political is the essence of the Gospel or if certain actions are too political for a place of worship.

The politically-blended congregation at Hall's First Christian Church of North Hollywood faced political divisions both before and after the presidential election, when Donald Trump won a landslide victory over Kamala Harris.

Hall, a native of Alabama, has led the church north of Los Angeles for two years. Despite his efforts to unite the church, it has proven to be a challenge.

The task of keeping Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the same pews and praying together is becoming increasingly complex, according to the Post.

Instead of focusing on contemporary migrants, Hall emphasizes the story of Mary and Joseph when preaching about the Bible's mandate to care for migrants. He uses a book of scripture readings to ensure that his selections are not perceived as political statements.

"When someone tells him they believe a sermon was targeted at a particular politician, he responds, "That's one way to view it!""

For many years, Los Angeles has been known as a liberal city. The city has not elected a Republican mayor since 1993.

According to election data from November, more Los Angeles residents voted for Trump than many polls had predicted.

In L.A., Trump received more votes than he did in 2020, with about 40% of the votes compared to 34%. Additionally, Trump's vote share increased nationwide, particularly in conservative areas but also in deeply Democratic states.

Numerous churchgoers departed the place of worship because of their ideological disparities. One of the attendees objected to a movie scheduled to be shown at the cinema, claiming it was "biased" and "opposed to the Republican party."

Others left after they discovered their peers were attending Trump’s inauguration.

The Post reported that someone left the services early on the Sunday following the election, as they felt that the leader on stage was too preoccupied with comforting those who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.

"At a football game, one side wins and everyone leaves. However, with a church and the election, it feels like everyone is still present," Hall remarked.

The popcorn and Coke cups are still on the ground, and the mess is causing 50% of people to be upset. We need to clean up the mess.

First Christian is a member of the Disciples of Christ denomination, which was founded to bring together Christian groups with differing theological and worship beliefs. The denomination serves over 1,000 members.

"As a good pastor, I must comfort you while confronting you. However, I must also be a prophet, guiding you to seek answers that will transform your life."

The Post reported that the same pastor had led First Christian for 52 years before Hall. Congregants say that the late Rev. Robert M. Bock didn't speak about contemporary political issues in church, even during the Vietnam War, which marked the start of his tenure. Hall is trying to forge a new way.