By Martha Taumata Faavae
The President of the National Council Of Churches (NCC), Rev. Kasiano Leaupepe, is taking a fighting stand against members of the clergy who are advocating for the church faithful to be involved in politics.
Rev. Leaupepe lashed out at a recent televised view of the General Secretary of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa or EFKS that the church should be involved in politics, when asked for a position of the Council
The EFKS General Secretary Rev. Vavatau Taufao felt that politics affect peoples’ lives and their religious faith as well.
NCC President Rev. Leaupepe blasted the opinion as a fearful threat to the peace and harmony in the church communities if members of the clergy try to sway political opinions.
“Do that and it will create divisions in the congregations by offending individual political loyalties,” Rev. Leaupepe rejected.
“The role of the clergy is to pray and fast for the spirit of the Lord to guide the voters in making their own rightful choices on who the political leadership they believe and trust in.
“People have their own political loyalties and church leaders are not in the right place to influence.
“They should preach the Word and encourage the faithful to follow the path of righteousness rather than scare them away.”
Rev. Leaupepe strongly chastised the ‘faifeau’ or church minister who will only complicate matters by putting unnecessary pressure on the peoples’ political choices.
The NCC leader calls on the church to be neutral and to support whatever Government is voted in because the church is also part of the Government.
“All appointments are from God and all who are selected are blessed accordingly.
“ Leave the politics to those who are anointed by God to be political leaders, while for us the clergy our calling is to preach the Word.
“The politicians are the ones selected to deal with politics, let God worry about whatever wrong or misdeeds that goes on in politics.”
The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has steered cleared from making any direct comments in response to the EFKS General Secretary’s political viewpoint.
Tuilaepa said on a media interview that the matter is better left to the elder of the EFKS church, as the proper level where matters of the church and the state should be discussed.
Angry reactions were recently reported from Savai’i when one of the church ministers tried to influence leaders of an EFKS church district or ‘pulega’ to support an opposition political party in the general elections.
Members of the ‘faifeau’s village congregation who supported the Government MP from the Electoral Constituency took exception to the church minister’s political involvement.
A meeting was called with the ‘faifeau’ and congregation members reportedly raised harsh words before the matter was finally settled in reconciliation.
Frictions continue to simmer between the EFKS Church and the Government over the tax policy for the clergy.
The EFKS television station is also being used exclusively by one of the political parties for the general elections to promote their political platform.
No other church television stations are involved in a similar political coverage.