Wisdom and governance

Christian responses to political gamesmanship

By Doug Koop  |  Editorial Director

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper escaped with his job mostly intact after an unsavoury showdown with opposition politicians in December, when an intense eruption of partisan politics polluted the governing environment and re-shaped the political landscape. Things are settled for now (sort of). Harper’s government survived, the Liberals emerged with a new leader and everyone is anticipating tense sessions when Parliament resumes later in January.

While the blame game will continue, we now can expect our elected federal politicians to knuckle down to the business of running the country. That’s certainly what Canadian citizens are hoping for. Most of us were chagrined by the unseemly squabbling in Ottawa and the bitter recriminations among the people we’d just chosen to be our governors. As the crisis unfolded before our bewildered eyes, spokespersons from Christian communities were keen to inject a dose of perspective and common sense.

Stay civil

Evangelical Fellowship of Canada president Bruce Clemenger, for example, released an open letter on “Wisdom and governance” calling for “a renewed practice of civility where humility, self-control, respect, courtesy, and good manners are practiced.” He highlights the real impact of recessionary times on Canadians and the need for our politicians and political institutions to reason together and work reasonably together.

“It requires wisdom and heeding the simple rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” wrote Clemenger. He then issued an appeal to politicians to practice the disciplines of civility, integrity, statesmanship and grace.

Escalating “rancour, barbs and vitriol among Parliamentarians and their partisan supporters” in the face of Canadians’ evident desire for new levels of cooperation clearly rankles Clemenger. “All four party leaders and many other prominent Canadians have made calls for a more conciliatory and tempered approach to the nation’s business. The behaviour of the House has not reflected a positive response to these calls.” He called on Parliamentarians to behave better and for citizens to hold them accountable to it.

Integrity, continues Clemenger, requires more careful language than was being thrown around in Ottawa. “There is a need to be disciplined in our rhetoric and choice of words to avoid creating instability and crisis beyond the serious issues already confronting the nation.” While acknowledging the reality of differing opinions among people of goodwill, Clemenger insisted, “Now is not the time to play into people’s fears, but rather to explore possibilities, articulate principles and search for common ground.”

Finally, Clemenger issued pleas for both statesmanship and grace. “The term statesman,” he explains, “is still one of the most complimentary of descriptions one can assign to a politician or civic leader, has historically been reserved for one who is able to transcend partisanship or parochial interests for the greater good.” As for grace, Clemenger is well aware that admissions and apologies are quicksand for politicians. But asking for forgiveness and forgiving others is necessary, he says. “Some may argue that this is not how the real world of politics works. Well, perhaps it is time for something different. Sincere apologies extended and forgiveness granted would go a long way.”

Prayer alert

The National House of Prayer in Ottawa also weighed in, issuing a 10-point prayer alert to guide the prayers of Christians during the most uncertain hours of the political crisis. Here again, an organization with a socially conservative base was blessedly nonpartisan in its approach. Among other things, the NHOP sought prayer for the Governor-General and for public calm in the midst of strong emotions and divisive rhetoric. They asked people to pray against the power lust of politicians and for members of the media, “that they would be careful to represent the truth and not take advantage of the situation.”

The best practices advocated by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the National House of Prayer are sound advice for all us, a dose of what’s needed in these turbulent times. As Clemenger concludes, adopting them “would help to restore the faith of citizens in a system intended for our good, and in our elected representatives. Good governance produces peace and security in the best of times and the worst of times.”

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