Pastors applaud move to allow Ministers of Religion in House

The removal of the disqualification of Ministers of Religion from being elected to the House of Assembly in the proposed new Constitution of St Vincent and the Grenadines has been applauded by some religious leaders.{{more}}

In section 26, subsection 1, paragraph (b) of the current Constitution, Ministers of Religion are barred from serving as parliamentary representatives, but if the vote is “Yes” in the referendum scheduled for November, some well known pastors may very well be bellowing another call to packed audiences, besides that of a call to repentance.

“It is a positive move. We need godly people in leadership,” declared the outspoken veteran Pentecostal preacher, Noel Clarke.

Clarke told SEARCHLIGHT that historically, people elect representatives, then pray that they “get saved”, and said it makes sense to send someone who is already saved and fears God into the House of Assembly.

Reverend Cecil Richards of the Kingstown Baptist Church agrees.

Pastor Richards said that a lot of what parliamentary representatives do and should be concerned about should also be the concern of preachers. Therefore, it is not a stretch to see a minister serving as a representative.

“Ministers should be concerned about the social development of people and the welfare of the citizens,” Pastor Richards reasoned.

He, however, noted that the field of politics is still looked upon as a taboo career. “Other jobs that a preacher may do is okay, but politics has been stereotyped as an area of trickery and so on.”

Co-pastor of the Living Waters Ministries, Laureen Kirby, told SEARCHLIGHT that she believes that such a move by a pastor should not be about personal ambition but rather based on the call of God.

Kirby said that such a person must feel that urging by the Lord and be grounded in the principles of God. She noted that the Bible is replete with examples of godly men who have served in high governmental offices.

She, however, noted that such men, like the biblical character Daniel, had their standards tested.

When SEARCHLIGHT broached the topic with Anglican Archdeacon Dr Sylvanus Regisford, he also supported the removal of the disqualification, but was concerned about the effect a spiritual leader being involved in politics could have on individual congregations.

Dr Regisford said that while a “Man of the Cloth” should have the ethical standards and the integrity, which would auger well for elected office, the health of the congregations must be considered.

He said that preachers must minister to their entire congregations, and a situation must not be allowed to come up where a minister is rejected in his own church due to his political affiliation.

“It is left to the church authorities to set their own regulations,” the Archdeacon said.

He said that the various denominations and groups will have to decide what category of ministers they will allow to run for elected office.

He suggested that someone who is not leading a congregation may be better suited to consider this option; which may be food for thought for individual groups to incorporate into their regulations.

Both Pastors Clarke and Richards have considered political careers in the past, and Pastor Clarke will not completely rule out putting his hat in the political ring.

“I was approached in the past about it, and now, my present stance will be no, but…” he said.