Home > Opinion > Journey asks Richard Tetley; How is volunteering for a political party an expression of your faith?

Journey asks Richard Tetley; How is volunteering for a political party an expression of your faith?

I BELONG to the local branch of the Labor Party.

I hold social justice dear to my heart and I am a member because I believe it has good social justice policies.

Being a member gives me the opportunity to reflect those ideals and have an input to debate as well as put up motions in support of that. If I feel the government is lacking in this area, then, through attendance at meetings, I have the opportunity to bring these concerns to the table.

I do have a concern for the way Prime Minister Julia Gillard was elected and feel disappointed that she has professed to not being a believer.

When the Commonwealth came into being Australia was considered a Christian nation.

References to God are still in our Constitution and I have no hesitation praying for that to continue.

Our local member, Michael Choi, is a Christian and whenever I get the opportunity to have prayer time in his office I ask God to continue to bless and uphold him as he carries out his duties.

Whilst Labor is in power I uphold them in my prayers, however, when they are in opposition and I don’t like the alternative government, I find that I can turn to Paul’s letters where he tells me to “respect those in authority and pray for them”.

Richard Tetley is a member of Capalaba Uniting Church