CHURCH leaders are to engage candidates being put forward by both political parties for the next general election in a series of consultations.

Convenor for the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC) Reverend Lenworth Anglin, said that the decision to meet with these candidates was made during a meeting last week with representatives from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica. The group was meeting to continue discussions on the ways the church could help to guarantee a smooth and fair election, which is constitutionally due in Jamaica by December 2012.

Rev Anglin said that the church groups are currently mapping out a strategy to ensure that all of the six umbrella groupings are fully involved in the process. The umbrella church groups representing about 94 per cent of all churches in Jamaica are: the Jamaica Council of Churches, Jamaica Full Gospel Churches, the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals, the Jamaica Pentecostal Union Apostolic, the Church of God in Jamaica, and the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

“We want to start moving as early as next week since campaigning has already started,” Rev Anglin told the Observer last week.

Last week too, the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) announced its slate of 63 candidates that will contest the next general election. The People’s National Party (PNP) announced that it had finalised its list of candidates on Saturday as political commentators have speculated that the nation could be going to the polls next month.

Rev Anglin said that the representatives of the various umbrella groups have already been apprised of their responsibilities in ensuring a successful election process. He said that all were in agreement as to the need for a unified approach in ensuring that the rights of citizens are respected and protected.

“We want to make sure that there is no animosity and that there is fairness and to help, even in the process of implementing the political code of conduct, so that they (candidates) can know what they should or shouldn’t do. It is important for the church in its role as peacemakers in the community,” he said.

He is hoping that the candidates will accept the spiritual and moral advice members of the clergy intend to proffer in the coming weeks.

“We believe that as the church, and especially churches in the locality of the constituency where some of the ministers and pastors know these candidates, we might have a little influence, because they do have a level of respect for us as a church,” the pastor said.

But political ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair has had his hands full in the last few weeks, as there have been calls for his intervention in various squabbles involving representatives from both political parties. As recent as last week, the ombudsman was asked by finance minister Audley Shaw to investigate what he perceived as irresponsible statements made by Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, which he believes could destroy investor confidence in the country. The opposition leader had announced that she would revisit deals made by investors if her party should win the next election.

Rev Anglin said that he was well aware of the verbal clashes that usually characterise general election campaigns. However he said that the church was not deterred in its efforts to provide sound counselling to candidates.

“We have no control over how these candidates will respond, but we have a responsibility, so we are not just working in isolation, we are working along with all the other players,” he said.

The clergyman’s advice for the candidates contesting the next general elections is, “that there will be sanity, that there will be respect and that they must deal with issues and avoid cursing personalities; just let it be fair and above board”.