THE entrance of the church into the fray of politics could threaten religious tolerance and the right of individuals to practice a particular religion or to abstain from such as is guaranteed by the Jamaican Constitution.

The church itself could also be at risk of having the practices of the secular political world seep in as a result, but it’s a risk church leaders say they are willing to take in the pursuit of justice and truth in governance.

“It’s a risk that we have to take that that perception could prevail, and it does prevail,” reasoned chairman of the Church of God in Jamaica Lenworth Anglin, when asked if he thought that the church’s presence in politics could impact negatively on religious freedoms.

“Some people would even argue with us: Who gives us any right to dictate values and ethics for people? Who gives the church that mandate? We now have to be very clear about our loyalty and our first loyalty is first to God and to stick to what we believe are our convictions, so even at the risk of sounding intolerant, we just have to present what we believe is the right position,” he said.

“We can’t get away from that; Jesus did not get away from that. In fact, he was challenged by many who were in authority… it’s one of the risks you take in ministry, but we are also clear that we are not writing off anybody who disagrees with us, and we are not saying that because they disagree with us that we won’t share with them or work with them, but we are just fulfilling what we call our mandate as the church,” he said.

General secretary for the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) Gary Harriott agreed.

“While there is place for partnership between church and state, if the church is not careful it could find itself in a compromising position where it finds it difficult to represent its values because of the competing influence of politics,” Harriott said.

“When you are providing leadership for the State, you are not only representing religious people, you are representing a society that is a mixed society… and so I do understand the possibility that it could create a problem, but again, I think there is benefit from the value that religion brings and I think that a society can significantly benefit in terms of its morals and ethics,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Anglin, who convened the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC), issued a news release saying that the church would be playing a more significant role in the general election expected by the end of the year. The organisation will sit at the Election Centre along with representatives of the major political parties, the security forces, the director of elections, the political ombudsman and local and international observers to, among other things, assist with conflict resolution.

The ideology of a separation of church and state was born in 18th-century Europe where states used their influence to advance religious causes, fostering religious persecution and wars of religion. The Americans were, however, the first to draft it into law upon the birth of their Republican style government in the 19th century.

Asked if he thought the JUGC’s signal was an indication that we were headed back in that direction, head of the Anglican church in Jamaica, the Rt Rev Alfred Reid said no.

“I don’t think the church intends to oppress anyone, but the church also must demand the same right of free speech as any other conscientious group of people in the society. What is at stake is democracy, if anything. If any objection to that were to arise it would bring into question the commitment to democracy,” he told the Sunday Observer.

“I think the church ought to give critical support to every government that is trying to seek the betterment of its people as well as give constructive criticism where it is needed,” Rev Reid added.

In addition, more and more professed Christians seem to be entering representational politics. The most recent of them is 37-year-old attorney-at-law Arnaldo Brown, who is seeking to win the newly formed East Central St Catherine seat for the People’s National Party (PNP).

On a recent visit to the Observer Brown, who worships at Andrews Seventh-day Adventist church, but who is a member of Halse Hall Seventh-day Adventist, said the church supported his decision to run.

“Truth be told, as with any organisation, there is an evolution, I believe, in position, and I believe the church now is more receptive to people offering themselves for public service so I wouldn’t say I have had any challenges or that anyone in my congregation is expressing any form of displeasure with my entry into representational politics,” he said.

“I would just like to point out that it is service, and a significant form of service, because we are treating with the issues that impact on people’s daily existence. Even when you go from door to door seeking the support of the voters, there are many parallels with what the church does in terms of evangelising and proselytising. There are certain issues that can confront you that you have to deal with as a representative of the people and those things, as far I’m concerned, are not inconsistent with religious persuasion or religious belief,” added Brown.

Brown joins the ranks of politicians like the PNP’s Ronald Thwaites who is a Catholic deacon, the National Coalition’s Betty-Ann Blaine, and senators Floyd Morris (PNP) and Hyacinth Bennett (JLP). There are also the governor general Sir Patrick Allen, an Adventist; the political ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair, who heads the Deliverance Centre; and Electoral Commission of Jamaica member Dr Herbert Thompson.

On the subject of its members entering representational politics, spokesman for the Adventist church in Jamaica, Nigel Coke, told the Sunday Observer that while regular members are free so to do, employees of the church are dissuaded.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church is not opposed to any individual member who would want to enter representational politics. However, they should endeavour to adhere to the highest standards of Christian behaviour. As modern-day Daniels, God will lead them and their fidelity to Him will inspire their community and society.

“A worker of the Church (someone employed by the church), however, is not encouraged to participate in any campaigning or representational politics. If a worker believes that in his or her opinion he or she should do so, then that person would have to resign from the position held in the church. This is to ensure that the church is not seen as supporting any particular political party, because we don’t,” said Coke, the church’s communication, public affairs and religious liberty director.

The church’s prophetess Ellen G White also has a say on the matter. In Messages to Young People she wrote: “Dear youth… have you thoughts that you dare not express, that you may sit in deliberative and legislative councils and help to enact laws for the nation? There is nothing wrong in these aspirations.”

As for Rev Reid, the Anglican church leader: “The danger of a committed Christian going into representational politics is that they may, wittingly or unwittingly, become compromised. But, on the other hand, I am quite sure that the positive way to look at it is that the more Christians you have in Parliament and in Government is the more you should be able to expect moral rectitude, justice, truth. Everything has its risks and dangers, but if we try to avoid risks then society will do nothing.”

The Church of God in Jamaica also expressed that it has evolved past having blanket reservations about members of its flock going into representational politics.

“We don’t have any serious reservations about the principle of persons entering politics. We have evolved. At one time persons were a little more suspicious about the church being involved in so many things but we (are past that),” said Rev Anglin.

However, making reference to the tribal and violent nature of Jamaican politics, Anglin said he thought it more prudent for the church to assist from outside rather than inside.

“Having said that, however, and I think I can repeat this point for many Christians, if you’re talking about politics in Jamaica as we know it, then that would beg another question and ask for a different discussion. Because of the level of corruption and violence that we all come to identify and associate with the politics in Jamaica, it makes it very difficult for a Christian to enter into that kind of setting. We would rather try to change the situation from outside and work, as we are now doing, from the outside, dealing with principles and making the input where we are needed,” he said.

“We wouldn’t rule out individuals who feel strongly enough that they would want to be a part of the system and would want to change it from within, but there would be strong reservations about church members or Christians and politics as it is in Jamaica,” he added.

The JUGC represents the Pentecostal, Church of God, Adventist, Full Gospel and Evangelical denominations, while the JCC represents 11 denominations including the Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists, Quakers and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.