Orthodox Church and Politics

This posting  in the context of the noises that are being raised regarding the role of the Church in relation to the Elections that are round the corner.An analysis has to start with the objectives of Church entering the political areana.It should be for for the welfare of all citizens in general and more particularly its members . The Church should also participate actively for realizing social goals like ensuring a Corruption free, equal opportunity driven political environment 
 There are certain fundamental questions that needs to be addressed to get proper answers to the questions that are being thrown up

1. What is the role of the Church in Politics? To rephrase the question, whether the Church should interfere in politics at all? And why?

In my opinion, the Church has a role in Politics for the purpose of ensuring Social Justice, for securing the Civil rights for its members,

2. What should be the kind of activism the church should take up for achieving the above objectives?

In my view, the Church should continuously involve itself in issues stated above.  Co-operation of various other organizations which can identify with the above goals of the Church. The Church should be less of a vote bank and more of a corrective force.

Within the frame of above parameters I am proceeding to analyze the present events that are being unfolded.

In the first place the present system of waking up at the 24^th hour will not take Church or the Diaspora anywhere. It may give some temporary sense of importance to some functionaries. Some promises and some nice words might come from here and there – like candies to a crying kid. There it will all end –as has been the experience in the past. Bargaining for a few seats for members of the Church irrespective of their past service to Church or even their morality and image is only going to affect the larger mission of the Church. The leadership of the Church needs longer vision and larger perspective.

Marginalization in political sphere that the Church is facing now is the result of the unimaginative actions of the Laymen leadership for many a decade. The situation needs to be corrected not by impulsive reactions when elections are round the corner. It has to be by way of long term strategies and grass root level work. For that there has to

be competent laymen leaders. Bava and Bishops should stay away from politics, but should educate the faithfuls on social issues and political stances should be based on such an ideological base. The present situation is that in Church hierarchy(Both Cleric and Laity),there are pro LDF and pro UDF persons, but hardly any pro Orthodox Church leaders. They act as power brokers for their political favourites.The goal is to canalize the votes to the Political force they are aligned with and gain access to powers that be. They are not bothered whether the interests of the church are short changed. All that bothers them is whether their political masters are pleased with their work and there is a good service entry in their service book kept by their masters. These good service entries are encashable at an opportune time. There are leaders who publicly proclaim that they are above Church affiliations, but interfere in Church elections to see that their Trojan horses are in place at the right places.

In such a messy situation, the politics of issuing statements when elections are round the corner, getting politicians to Church Headquarters, getting some promises that are forgotten in no time and raking up another controversy at the time of next election is an absurd drama that is being staged with monotonous regularity.

If the Church is serious about dealing in politics seriously for effecting social changes according to the church stances, there has to be proper home work to be done. Acting as brokers for some politicians to gain seats is certainly not the mission of the Church