Canadian Alliance leadership keeps the faith
OTTAWA, ON - The Reform Party's largely successful bid to "unite the right" into the Canadian Alliance has garnered national headlines and will continue to in the run-up to the next federal election.
But an issue that has received only sporadic coverage is the surprisingly large percentage of CA leadership who are evangelical Christians.
While Christian politicians are nothing new–prominent Christians active in Canadian politics have been scattered throughout the major parties over the years–never has there been such a concentration of those subscribing to an evangelical faith at the leadership level of a party that has a fighting chance to become the government.
The nearest thing, says Trinity Western University political science professor John Redekop, was at the provincial level. Alberta's Social Credit Party in the 1950s was essentially run by evangelical Christians such as longtime leader–and Preston Manning's father–Ernest Manning.
"But there has been nothing like this at the national level," he adds.
CA's two main leadership candidates, longtime Reform leader Preston Manning, and Alberta treasurer Stockwell Day, are both articulate committed Christians with deep roots in evangelical faith. Manning grew up under the strong religious tradition of his father and has carefully explained how his faith is integrated in public service.
Day, an articulate, bilingual, photogenic and, at age 49, relatively young political star with important political leadership experience, was a Pentecostal preacher and Christian school administrator among other things before entering the political arena.
That both are evangelical and socially and fiscally conservative have made them targets among critics who negatively associate them with the religious right in the United States.
Key differences
But the way the two have integrated their faith into politics is markedly different, observes Redekop–both from religious politics south of the border and from each other.
"[Faith] will be a liability for Day," says Redekop, "especially in the press, but it needn't be a significant one."
Whereas Manning has said that democracy will supercede his religious conviction on any given issue, Day is "almost uncompromising" in holding to religious rationale for political decisions. "He'll have to modify that or he won't go anywhere politically," says Redekop.
Day is still getting pummeled for his public stance against homosexuality in which he stated in 1992 that "homosexuality is a mental disorder that can be cured by counseling."
But if he does manage to distance himself from a primary identity as an evangelical Christian and instead rely on his strengths such as his solid political record in managing Alberta's robust economy, Redekop says Day has a "better than 50 percent chance of becoming leader." If that happens, he gives Day the same chances of becoming prime minister.
CA has "an opportunity to make major ethical progress" in public policy, says Redekop, "but not by trying to transform society into the church. They need to understand that public policy tends to change gradually." Working tactfully within the political system will have a greater long-term political effect than to come out with religious guns blazing, he says.
Lloyd Mackey, author of Like Father, Like Son, which examines the political and religious lineage of the Manning family, says that Manning and others will need to be aware of the fear of Ontario voters that CA will allow social conservatism to overtake fiscal conservatism especially since Ontario will be the key province to give CA a shot at governing.
Ontario entry
One potential leader who could get the CA closer to power in Ontario is provincial Tory junior cabinet minister Frank Klees. Little-known outside Ontario, but known among the vote-rich conservative constituencies of Ontario, Klees could garner important votes that would put CA over the top.
Klees is said to have the support of three-quarters of the Harris caucus, a powerful endorsement. Klees has said that if he became leader, he could deliver 40 seats from Ontario.
In an interview with Mackey for Christianweek, Klees was not reluctant to talk about his own evangelical faith. "But he's careful in the way he expresses it, especially to people where he doesn't know where they're coming from," says Mackey. Klees attends New Market Alliance Church and came to faith as a young adult in a Pentecostal tradition.
Even assuming someone else wins, Klees would become a significant figure among CA's decision-makers in Ottawa. In the meantime, pundits are looking at Klees as a "kingmaker" to either Day or Manning, depending on where he directs his third-place votes, should that occur.
Whoever becomes the actual leader, the broad leadership of the CA remains remarkably faith-friendly. The likely caucus members would include both Day and Manning as well as longtime MPs Chuck Strahl and Deborah Grey, both evangelical Christians.
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
