PR – Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) candidate for St. George South East, Stanford Simon, has defended his decision to enter frontline politics, arguing that Christians should not remain on the sidelines while political decisions shape the society they live in.
Simon, a longtime pastor and community leader, made the comments during an appearance on the Grenada Broadcasting Network’s “To The Point’’, where he was asked to respond to concerns about whether a pastor and “man of the cloth” should become directly involved in politics.
Simon said the assertion by some that Christians should stay out of politics has no firm historical or biblical basis.
“Christians historically have gotten a message from their missionaries that they should not be involved in politics,” Simon said, while pointing to examples of Christian participation in political life internationally and biblical figures such as Joseph, who served as a senior political leader in Egypt.
He also rejected the suggestion that Christians should remain outside political organizations because they may work alongside people who do not share their religious beliefs.
“The only way we can actually make a difference is not to sit aside and talk about unequally yoked,” Simon said. “It really doesn’t fit into the politics.”
According to Simon, Christians already work alongside people of different beliefs in workplaces, community organizations, and other areas of society. He questioned why political participation should be treated differently.
“Why should I sit on the sideline and only talk and leave you to make some bad decisions for which I had to live with?” he asked.
Simon said his decision to enter politics is motivated by an opportunity to contribute to national development rather than simply by political ambition.
“I see an opportunity for me to help my country and to make it better,” said Simon, former Senior Pastor at St. George’s Baptist Church.
He stressed that greater participation by Christians and other citizens could strengthen Grenada’s political and social institutions.
“If more Christians and more believers get involved in the political field,’’ he said, “we would have a better country. We would have a better society.”
Simon also linked his political involvement to his wider record of service, pointing to his experience in community, institutional and organizational leadership.
His comments come as he prepares to contest St. George South East for the DPM in the upcoming general election. Simon has previously described his political involvement as another avenue to serve Grenada, and has been reiterating the need for greater cooperation across political and social divides.
Religious figures entering the political arena is not a new phenomenon in Grenada. They have included former NDC government minister Jonathan LaCrette in 2022, and Karl Hood who was elected an MP in 2008.
During the GBN interview, Simon also endorsed the DPM’s broader emphasis on national development, including stronger healthcare services, improved transportation, and measures to expand opportunities for young Grenadians.
