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| Conservative candidate Reed Elley |
WHAT is an ordained minister doing, stepping down from
his pulpit and climbing a political soap-box? Exchanging the kingdom of God
for the kingdoms of this world?
Reed Elley, minister of Baptist congregations in
Ontario, Alberta, Victoria, Nanaimo and Port Alberni, became the Reform MP
for Nanaimo-Cowichan from 1997 to 2004. He will be running there again for
the Conservatives in the next federal election.
He does not think there is a conflict between his
pastoral and political careers. On the contrary.
“Christians have to get their heads around the
fact that we need to be part of the world to have an opportunity to change
it”, he says.
“Not that we have to compromise our beliefs
– but that we allow our beliefs to be worked out in the
flesh-and-blood situations of our society, and so make a difference
there.”
How do his two careers compare? There are a lot of
similarities, he says.
“In both jobs, it is all about people. Throughout
my ministry, I always found myself drawn to the underdog; I wanted to take
up the cause of the people who needed the help.
“As a representative of the people in my riding,
I do the same thing. And as far as politics are concerned –
unfortunately, there is politics in churches as well!”
Are Christian politicians different from others?
“Somebody who goes into politics takes his values
with him. That is quite clear when you hear members discuss issues in the
caucus.
“So, yes – when a Christian goes into
politics, one can expect him to take his integrity, honesty and concern for
people with him.”
What made Elley decide to return to politics? Several
reasons.
When he retired from politics in 2004, it was in part
for health problems, which have since been resolved. If he is elected, he
will this time be on the government side of the House.
This means that most things he and his party stand for
will actually get done – and he finds this an exciting prospect.
Previously, his party was in opposition, and that put him in a position of
very limited effectiveness.
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He also felt encouraged when Stephen Harper asked him
personally if he would help him regain the riding for the Conservatives; it
is presently held by the NDP.
He has great respect for Harper – whom he
considers a man of principle, who thinks deeply about an issue before he
acts, and is always guided by what he believes to be the good of the
people.
He further values Harper because he is a family man,
who loves his wife and young children. To have someone like that living in
the house on Sussex Drive, modeling healthy family life, says Elley, is a
good thing for the country.
Why does he think the Conservatives are the party
Christians should vote for?
“You cannot call it a Christian party; but it has
a higher percentage of Christians than any other party. Christians usually
like our view of a justice system which favours the victim and not the
criminal. They like our emphasis on the individual rather than the state:
we aim for smaller government, and avoid buying popular support by spending
money on projects that make people dependent on the state.
“We have abolished the Court Challenges program,
which catered to left-leaning groups; and leveled the playing field by
redistributing monies for women’s programs and daycare –
so that everyone can benefit from them, including groups like REAL Women.
Finally: why should the voters of Nanaimo-Cowichan
elect him as their representative?
“A lot of people felt I was a good constituency
MP, who listened to people, took time with their problems regardless of
their political affiliation, and worked hard to solve them. By the way
– my effectiveness that way had a lot to do with the great staff I
was blessed with, both here and in Ottawa.
“But I will be able to do even more for the
people, because this time I will be on the government side. I will have the
ear of the ministers, who are people I know from the last time I sat in
Parliament. This riding has not had a government MP for the last 24
years.”
May 2007
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