wfn.org | People of Faith Have Public Responsibility

[APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com]

August 20, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

People of Faith Have Public Responsibility, Says 
Adventist Legislator

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.      Seventh-day Adventist 
politician David Pendleton says there is room for 
more involvement by church members in the public 
realm. "Adventists have a unique contribution to 
make to public dialogue and to public service-
especially in areas such as social justice, health 
care and care for the homeless," says Pendleton, who 
points to the church's long history of activism 
against smoking and its emphasis on humanitarian 
concerns. 

As Minority Floor Leader in the Hawaii House of 
Representatives, Pendleton, 34, believes that 
Adventist Christians should not "get so caught up in 
the 'coming kingdom of justice' that we neglect 
public issues of social justice in the here and 
now."

Pendleton, a Republican, is aware of the inevitable 
dangers of the partisan political process. "I always 
look at both sides of an issue, and I always vote on 
conscience-even when it goes against traditional 
Republican stances," says Pendleton, who draws a 
distinction between "everyday political give-and-
take," and issues that can be decided only by 
reference to "rock-solid principles."  

A person considering a political career, says 
Pendleton, needs to "understand who they are, what 
their beliefs are, and have a strong sense of 
values-otherwise they will be compromised by the 
system [because] the pressures are so great."

Pendleton says he hopes his work demonstrates that 
the phrase "Adventist politician" is not a 
contradiction in terms. "We need more Daniels, more 
Esthers, more Josephs."

Pendleton, who earned a master of arts degree in 
theology from Loma Linda University before enrolling 
at the University of Southern California law school, 
is also a leader of the Adventist Church in Hawaii. 
He heads up the communication, special ministries, 
community services and public affairs and religious 
liberty departments, as well as functioning as in-
house counsel.

"The Bible tells us, in Micah, that as Christians we 
are called to lives of public service-to do justice, 
and to love kindness and to walk humbly with our 
God," says Pendleton. The proper relationship 
between church and state is another area in which 
Adventists have a distinctive and important message, 
he adds.

Pendleton has served in the Hawaii legislature since 
1996.   In an unprecedented move, the Republican 
caucus elected Pendleton House Minority Whip in the 
second year of his freshman term.	

As House Floor Minority leader, he currently holds 
the number two position in the
Hawaii House Republican Caucus. (242/2000)