CRWRC Supports Biblical Voter Education

For most countries, especially those in the developing world, public justice—including fair, open elections—is not easy.

One of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals is to make the election process more transparent.

This is happening in the Philippines with assistance from the Christian Reformed Church World Relief Committee and its partner Christian Convergence for Good Governance (CCGG), an organization that confronts vote-buying and corruption among public officials.

Last year the CCGG trained more than 1,200 Christian pastors and community leaders in voter education.

Reverend Orong, an indigenous pastor at Glory to God Church, says that these trainings have made a real difference in poor communities in his area. "We became aware that politicians are simply using us for our votes. Once the elections are over, the candidates just toss us aside."

Nearby, Pastor Noel says many Christians in his area are now refusing cash bribes from political parties and are volunteering to monitor election processes instead. 

With CRWRC, the CCGG provides practical education to pastors and church leaders about voter registration, electoral fraud, candidate stances, automated voting, and partisanship.  

Since corruption, vote buying, and violence are significant election issues, CRWRC and CCGG also address these as a follower of Jesus Christ, which takes courage and hope. Philippine learners are often amazed that the Bible addresses character, values, and standards for leadership.

When the organizations build community around biblical leadership and justice for vulnerable people, CRWRC and CCGG not only encourage public integrity but put their faith into public practice as well, says CRWRC Asia Team Leader Tom Post.

"People of faith who elect leaders with integrity help build societies and systems with transparency and accountability," says Post.

In North America, for instance, it's pretty easy to take voting rights and other civic duties for granted.  Most people go their polling place, cast their vote, and go on their way in peace. No inky fingers or gunfire involved.

It is important, however, to consider what could happen if more public processes were completed with justice, in North American communities and around the world as well.

The UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) include ways for nations to build transparency and hold each other accountable for good governance. The MDGs are a commitment to courage and hope that, as a global community, 189 nations will work together to overcome poverty by 2015.

MDG 8, the final UN development goal, overarches the other seven. It ensures that developed and developing countries work together to create fair alliances, systems, and policies. This "global partnership for development" can be built on and by nations that value transparent processes and accountability.

Pastor Omar, who leads a local congregation on Mindanao in the Philippines, says, "We long for righteous leaders who can finally end the conflict and poverty that plague us. Our young adults need to learn the basics of the voting process and its weaknesses."

Through CCGG, new voters registered, studied the candidate’s stances, learned Bible-based criteria for leadership, and completed the voting process, Pastor Omar says.

Pastor Henry, a CCGG trainer, says that many Philippine Christians "don't connect faith to civic responsibility. If we consider politics filthy and evil, and refuse to participate in anything that is not church-related, we miss opportunities to advance God’s righteousness—and as a result, we fail to elect upright leaders."

By setting high standards for personal and civic authenticity, Christians in the Philippines and around the world champion biblical justice for those who are poor and oppressed.

Whether on Mindanao or in Edmonton, Alberta, the voices of believing Christians must proclaim a message that does not divide right from left, but discerns right from wrong as organizations such as CRWRC demonstrate the love of Christ to a world in need.

For more information on CRWRC, the aid and development agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, vist: www.crwrc.org.