Page 10 - LifelineOct

LIFELINE Exclusive

Pastor Frank Peterman talks about
PASTORS AND POLITICS

By Gregory L. James

Pastor Frank Peterman wrapped wrote the first ordinance and the first commitment is demonstrated in his
in what you can see is an ancestral order of government,” said Peterman. development of a project called the
strength and humility, is embraced That was to be our guide. Nehemiah Group, in St. Petersburg
by an unquestionable divinity that whose purpose was to fight Black on
shapes the contours of pastor and As a pastor who has been in civic life Black Crime and to fight injustices in
politics. As the pastor of The Rock of for many years, he has served as a the community. Peterman, who holds
Jesus Missionary Baptist Church, St. City Councilman, in St. Petersburg, fast to pastors’ responsibilities to
Petersburg, Florida and the Secretary Florida and as a State Legislature. their parishioners and the community
for the Department of Juvenile Justice He said that distinguishing the role said, “the world does not have a
for the State of Florida, he has seen of pastor and politician can be a little panacea for our social ills, only God
upfront how politics affect people and bifurcated. “As a preacher you are does.” Because of that belief, he
how pastors carry the burden of the protected sometimes because people expressed that it is pastors’ civic duty
effects. “African American preachers will not approach you with certain to be involved, “they should always
changed the world, that’s our legacy. things, because they know what you be involving themselves in politics,
We had this DNA in us even before Dr. stand for. It’s a blessing because it’s the right thing to do based on the
Martin Luther King,” said Peterman. people know you won’t move in Word of God.”
a certain direction.” According to
During an exclusive interview with Peterman the tough part is when you Though sometimes it appears that
LifeLine, in Tallahassee, Florida, the have to make hairsplitting decisions the African American pastor’s voice
48 year old Pastor and Politician that the world thinks should be a is recessed at a grass root level,
opened up and talked candidly certain way, but your faith thinks Peterman’s response is one of
about the responsibility of pastors should be another way. support and honor for pastors. “I
and the role they must play in policy “Fighting that battle, knowing you don’t generalize pastors, because
and politics. The interview which was can’t compromise –that’s difficult, there are pastors who are on the front
set for 30 minutes lasted almost an because the world won’t always line doing amazing things.” However,
hour, as the pastoral commitment understand why you champion some he also admitted there needs to be
flowed from Pastor Peterman as things and oppose others.” a social outrage and social outreach
though he had a reservoir waiting to from the pulpit. “We have to talk about
be released. Peterman opened the He said he tries to use the Bible as social ills and unequal treatment. We
biblical history book of government his reference point. It’s that reference have to do this for ourselves. We must
dating back to Moses. He repealed point that substantiates his belief that get involved with what’s happening
the concept of a dichotomy of the pastors should always be involved with the juvenile justice system, as it Cont on next page
church and government. in civic life. “We should always be is comprised of predominately African
“It was never intended to be a pushing people to the polls. We should American children.” He resolves that
dichotomy between the two. Moses always be fighting for justice.” His we must rebuild our infrastructure of
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