I'm naive enough to believe that the Church has a role to play and could actually provide a place where people of differing political views come together for a bit of friendly fellowship, if nothing else. But sometimes friendly fellowship leads to something else, like genuine dialogue, or respectful argumentation, or even unexpected agreements.

The more we demonise our political enemies, the less we are able to learn from them things we should learn. With the involvement of the Church, some of these demons could be cast out, and this would be good for Jamaica.

Some claim that our politics is too partisan for such things; I claim otherwise. The Church can be the place where people of differing political viewpoints actually come together to talk, to disagree respectfully, to discover reasons for their differences, to laugh at themselves, to find common ground and, yes, even to learn from each other.

Moreover, the Church could be the place in Jamaican life where genuine, truth-seeking conversation about real issues happens in an atmosphere free from exaggeration, innuendo and character assassination.

But why are not more Christians and churches speaking out in Jamaica today? The answer is simple - fear and/or ignorance! It is distressing to hear some insist that it is not legitimate for Christians or 'religious people' to be engaged in politics. Scriptural examples clearly teach us otherwise. If today's people of faith shrink back and surrender government and our communities to others who are antagonistic to a just society, the results will be disastrous.

Here is where our new GG can take the lead. Through the active involvement of our churches, a difference can be made in the political fortunes of our country. With the changes that our society is rapidly experiencing, the Church must use the occasion to offer a critique of the situation of unfairness and injustice that so many in our country are experiencing. This point in time can be the opportunity for the Church to offer a prophetic reading of our times and live up to the vision of' doing justice'.

I am, etc.,

VICTOR J.N. CUMMINGS

Kingston