Church and politics
Church and politics
We need to pray for our politicians.
The Tasmanian Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast is being held on Tuesday 28 October. The numbers attending have out-grown the parliament and it will be held this year at the Hobart Grand Chancellor. Of course you don't have to come to the breakfast to pray for the parliament. It would be great if the Christians of Tasmania could make 28 October a day of prayer for our politicians.
The engagement between Church and politics is important and it needs to be done well. My reference point for this engagement is the American Christian social justice activist Jim Wallis.
He is the founder of Sojourners, a global faith and justice network and author of God’s Politics and the Great Awakening. I heard Jim on his recent visit to Australia.
He refers to four principles that the US Catholic bishops encourage the faithful to adopt:
- As an institution, we are called to be political but not partisan. The Church cannot be chaplain for any one party or cheerleader for any candidate. Our cause is the protection of the weak and vulnerable and defence of human life and dignity, not a particular party or candidate.
- The Church is called to be principled but not ideological. We cannot compromise our basic values or teaching, but we should be open to different ways to advance them.
- We are called to be clear but also civil. A Church that advocates justice and charity must practice these virtues in public life. We should be clear about our principles and priorities, without impugning motives or name-calling.
- The Church is called to be engaged but not used. We welcome dialogue with political leaders and candidates, seeking to engage and persuade public officials. But we must be sure that events and photo ops are not substitutes for work on policies that reflect our values.
When you consider writing a letter to a politician, ringing talkback, participating in a protest or meeting a politician consider these principles and please join me on 28 October in praying for those who serve us in parliament.
Regards,
Chris
Vicar General
Jim Wallis was once asked by a journalist, ‘Is George W. Bush your brother in Christ?’, to which he replied, ‘Yes he is, but he’s also the most dangerous president in American History.’
Jim Wallis, evangelical social justice activist, friend of Barack Obama and author of the bestselling God’s Politics, was in Australia last month to promote his new book, Seven Ways to Change the World – Reviving Faith and Politics.
He spoke to Roland Ashby of The Melbourne Anglican. Read the entire article in TMA online.
‘Putting the Bible back together’, Muriel Porter's review of Jim Wallis’ address, may be found here.