Canon Baraka cautions clergy against politicising the pulpit

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Renowned Anglican evangelist, youth ministry activist, and advocate for the destitute, Rev. Canon Capt. Titus Baraka, has criticised church ministers who turn the pulpit into a platform for attacking individuals based on their political, ethnic, religious or other inclinations.

He warned that such conduct undermines the core mission of building society’s moral fabric without fear or favour.

Rev. Canon Baraka urged such ministers to focus on delivering messages that condemn evil rather than the individual, adding that before God, all people are potentially good and acceptable.

Baraka, who has served in church ministry for 43 years, is due to retire from mainstream ministry in March next year upon reaching the Anglican Church’s mandatory retirement age of 65.

However, he told New Vision in an interview that he will continue serving in youth ministry, as well as with prison inmates and other needy communities.

The former head of the Brotherhood of St. Andrews—a department for men’s evangelism, particularly to orphans and the needy—Can. Baraka currently serves as executive director of the Uganda Chapter of the US-based Words of Hope Ministries International.

He is also the founding director of Manya Eddembe Lyo Mu Kristo, a ministry focused on youth training, empowerment and counselling.

Quoting former Mukono Diocesan Bishop Emeritus James William Ssebaggala, Baraka said, “As ministers we need to be careful with our words because words from one’s mouth are like a bullet from a gun; once you pull the trigger, you cannot retract it but simply wait for the chaos it is going to cause where you have directed it.”

Baraka noted that while everyone has the inalienable right to subscribe to a political party of their choice, church ministers should refrain from openly expressing this right, especially from the pulpit, because they are duty-bound to shepherd all believers fairly and justly, regardless of differing beliefs.

In a word of advice to political leaders, Baraka criticised those who use political power to trample on the weak.

He said, “Much as it is your right to subscribe to the FDC, DP, NRM or NUP, you are obliged to conduct yourselves in a manner that reflects God’s glory by giving fairness to all without discrimination.”

The towering man of God did not spare his own Anglican Church, which he said is home to ‘Balokole’ (born-again) sects that promote divergent doctrines against one another.

He cited Bible scripture that encourages believers to be accommodating despite their differences.

Without naming names, Baraka also cautioned church ministers against being silenced by politicians who may exploit the ministers’ desire for personal gain.

He emphasised that ministers must remain open and fair to all, regardless of their beliefs.