Author: Lucianne Limo
Date: January 20, 2007
Type of article: News
Source: The East African Standard - not available online

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu has told religious leaders wishing to pursue political ambitions to resign from church.

The cleric said the pastors who have declared interest in joining politics should quit the pulpit.

"If people have political aspirations, they ought to resign from the positions they have in church before entering into politics," he stated.

He said that a pastor who represents a certain constituency would not be able to lead a congregation the right way.

The retired cleric stated that the Church must be involved in politics but not party politics. "I think everybody must be involved in politics but not party politics, he stated.

The churches have the obligation to give positive and moral direction in political situations but not to directly be involved in political parties.

The cleric added that pastors with personal interest in the political world, have no business in the pulpit. "If you want to join politics because you think pastors do not get enough money, then resign and become an MP," he said.

The cleric’s opinion has echoed what the mainstream churches expressed on the increased number of pastors who continue to declare their political interest.

Church leaders Ms Margaret Wanjiru, Mr Ezekiel Ndura Waruinge and Mr Pius Muiru have expressed their desire to join politics.

Bishop Wanjiru and Pastor Waruinge have declared interest in the Starehe and Lang’ata constituency parliamentary seats respectively, while Pastor Muiru wants to be the presidency and Kamukunji Constituency.
Tutu also said Africa as a continent has the potential to be economically independent without depending on international relief.

"Africa is a sleeping giant and it must awoken. The continent should not think that God made a mistake in creating us," he added.

The bishop was speaking on Friday at the African All Churches Conference as a guest of the ecumenical platform towards the World Social Forum.

The cleric had also visited Starehe Boys Centre where he laid a wreath at the Mausoleum of the schools’ founder, Dr Geoffrey Griffin.