THE EDITOR, Sir:
PURSUANT TO the Prime Minister's call for the inclusion of pastors on government boards, there has been much talk about the separation of Church and State. Many say that there should be a clear separation, others that the presence of pastors on boards will ensure a moral perspective in decision making. Both views miss the point.
In The Gleaner of Wednesday, April 26, Mr. Aubyn Hill, in an article titled 'PM, pastors, principles and politics' makes the case for morality in governance. Mr. Hill refers to moral principles, framework, tone, guidance, rectitude, limits and so on. But what is a moral principle? Or moral guidance? Or moral limits? Mr. Hill suggests that these 'are based on the Christian doctrine'.
Morality is an invisible thread woven into the fabric of the rules that govern our society. Some of these rules are formal laws and regulations, others are informal guidelines for behaviour in public and private. Morality is that societal sense of right and wrong which serves to preserve society and inhibit anti-social behaviour.
If a person is to be placed on a government board, primarily because that person is a Christian, the lines between Church and State will become blurred; we need to tread carefully. We must beware of quasi-theocracies, lest the 'wrath of God' be unleashed upon us by His servant. If, on the other hand, a lone pastor is placed on a board populated by men of immoral intent, not many moral decisions can be expected from that board. Such a pastor is likely to eventually resign in frustration.
How then do moral decisions, 'based on the Christian doctrine', get taken in board and committee meetings? I suggest that boards which, because of lack of moral clarity, make decisions that violate or circumvent the rules governing their conduct, be summarily fired en bloc, or otherwise appropriately sanctioned. Because a Judaeo-Christian ethic permeates the rules that govern our society, said rules must be deemed to be inherently moral. Adherence to these rules will ensure moral prudence.
The moral conduct of boards has less to do with the assignment of pastors and more to do with accountability and sanctions. It is on the matter of holding boards accountable that we need to hear the Prime Minister speak. She is asking the pastors to do her job and they are going to fail for lack of authority. Passing the buck will get us nowhere.
I am, etc.,
JOHN RICHARDS
Stony Hill
St. Andrew
