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In my over 12 years as a pastor, I have battled with the appropriateness of politicians using church platforms in the pursuit or solicitation of political power. Again, being a Presbyterian who appreciates the importance of liturgical actors, their sitting place and their roles at worship service, I question the rationale of allowing politicians to share the same space with the preacher, the liturgist and other liturgical actors. I am wondering if the President, the Speaker of Parliament, or Members of Parliament share their seats and desks with the clergy whenever they pay them courtesy visits at the Presidency and the Parliament respectively. Why is the pulpit becoming subservient to political power and why are church leaders acquiescing to this development?

Politicians and government officials who occupy high offices must appreciate the fact that it is out of courtesy and honour that church leaders acknowledge their presence during worship service. I believe the same gesture must be returned when they are given the opportunity to interact with the gathering. Recently, the president attended a church service at the Church of Pentecost at Akonfodi in the Assin North Constituency in the Central Region where the Parliamentary seat is being contested He used the opportunity, among other things, to openly campaign for the NPP parliamentary candidate using the church of Pentecost podium or pulpit. I carefully chose the term podium or pulpit because a podium could also serve as a pulpit. I think the President’s conduct betrayed the leadership of the Church of the Pentecost who gave Him the opportunity to address the members of the Church as the President of the Nation but not as the flagbearer of the National Patriotic Party.

I think the church must not be seen as a polarised entity although outside the four walls of the church, members of the Church may belong to different political parties. I fear the church may lose its credibility and integrity if it is seen or believed to be politically divided or influenced by known political parties in the country. Paul also underscored the importance of unity in the Church when he wrote that “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28). The church will lose its prophetic voice if it is seen to be politically divided and also in bed with political parties. The Church can no longer become the conscience of the state if politicians have unrestricted influence and access to the pulpit. The neutrality of the church in matters of partisan politics and national issues can not be overemphasized. My humble plea is that church leaders should guard the sanctity and integrity of the Church in their relationship with politicians. The church must represent Christ and not any political party in its ministry and mission in the world. Shalom.