If there were more ministers of religion in the House of Assembly, would the country be in a better economic and social position than it is today?
In 2002, a number of religious leaders offered themselves as candidates or publicly endorsed a political leader whom they felt was spiritually anointed. Some ministers who contested seats included, St Cecelia MP, Cynthia “Mother” Pratt; Reverend Dr Phillip McPhee, Pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Reverend Frederick McAlpine, an independent candidate vying for a seat in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Their decision sparked the debate of whether “men and women of God” should be entangled in politics. At the time, Bishop Neil Ellis, Pastor of Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church reportedly admonished his congregation to vote in favor of the PLP. He also endorsed Perry Christie as the “one chosen by God” to lead the country, and the PLP captured the government of The Bahamas in May 2002.
At this point, it is difficult to determine how many religious leaders will vie for seats in the 2007 general election. While some ministers believe that they can bring a level of compassion and sensitivity to how the country is governed, others are solely devoted to the church.
Reverend Dr Phillip McPhee, Pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and the unsuccessful 2002 candidate vying to secure a seat in the Bain and Grant’s Town constituency, believes that separating the church and the state is impossible.
According to Rev McPhee, a religious head is always sensitive to the needs of a community. Such individuals, he said, have “caring spirits” and are always willing to speak the truth and do what is right, regardless of a person’s political affiliation.
“Who best would be able to head the country?” Rev McPhee asked. “Certainly not some of those who are in Parliament now. I think both parties need to consider candidates that are men who fear God, those who respect the role that the church plays in the community. If the nation would only listen more to the preacher,” Reverend McPhee said. “I am not saying the preacher will be right all the time and I am not saying the preacher has all of the answers, but certainly, we ought to have a relationship with God to give us a discerning spirit so that we could be able to detect some things within our church and community, and this is where I have a problem with the former government and a little bit [of a problem] with this present government.”
Reverend McPhee believes that if the government forges a better relationship with pastors, various vices confronting the country would be attacked. He pointed out however, that there must be a balance when it comes to how much time a minister devotes to his constituents and to his church.
Reverend McPhee said that biblically, pastors, ministers and prophets were always politicians. He said these individuals addressed the social ills of the nation and they went to Kings and those in charge to deliver messages from God. He said it was because of those prophets that many conditions within the land were changed.
Pastor Ilsa Evans, spokesperson for Bishop Neil Ellis of Mt. Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church, said pastors should be clear on what God is calling them to do. “Certainly there are many examples of people in the Bible that were connected to God and called to public service, then there were others who were just called to do the things of God,” she said. “For an individual, it is a matter of being clear on what your particular assignment is and this is Bishop Ellis’ position.”
However, Pastor E. Dannie Clarke of the Maranatha and Johnson Park Seventh Day Adventist churches believes that religious leaders should stay out of front line politics. He explained that SDA ministers are fully devoted to the church and they cannot divide their duties between the church and state.
“For me, ministry supercedes politics,” Pastor Clarke stated. “Politics will bring together a group of individuals from the same political persuasion and the ministry will bring together everybody from whatever political persuasion. I see the ministry as a wider and a higher calling.”
President of The Bahamas Christian Council, Reverend Dr William Thompson, said he has no problem with a minister of religion if he or she wants to throw his or her hat in the race to contest a seat in the 2007 general elections. “From a biblical standpoint this is the way it was for those of us who are Christians,” Rev. Thompson said. “The priests and the prophets held two hats. I have no problem with it. If you ask me if I would do it, I would say no because I am strictly a churchman but I have no problem with any minister who feels that calling on his or her life because scripturally, there is nothing wrong with it.”
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
