Clayton Perry: You are really involved in politics and a lot of political leaders have asked for your advice, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. What role do you think the church should play in politics?  

Rev. A. R. Bernard: The church is God’s agent for moral imperative. We are salt and light. As salt, we preserve a certain set of standards and values that we believe are absolute, regardless of what society believes. We maintain the society and protect it from corruption. We’re also light – illuminators of the way of truth, of understanding, of peace, of community, of unselfish caring for one another. The reality is that we are a human family. It’s out of my faith that I’m strengthened to bring things like justice, peace, righteousness to the society because those are my values and they come from my faith. So we [as Christians] bring that influence to society. 

Clayton Perry: As the minister of such a diverse congregation, what do you think about some of the differences that divide us? It goes without saying that different people come with different politics and different lifestyles. How do you react to this within that body?

Rev. A. R. Bernard: Well, take my church. We have 29,342 members as of February 2008, and all who are coming are at different levels of spiritual growth, maturity, and understanding. I understand that and appreciate each person’s journey. I would never place upon them my level of consecration, but encourage them to become more dedicated to the God they serve and to the Bible that’s the source of faith and [the] rule of conduct.

The more dedicated and committed they are to this life of faith, the greater its influence upon their lifestyle. Everyone in society has the power of choice as a God-given gift, but we become servants of the choices we make. When we choose lifestyles that are in opposition to who we really are, we suffer the consequences. We’re made in the image of God, and there’s a beauty about us that we still retain in spite of our fallen condition.

So, [because of that beauty] I can work with people in government or in the community who have far different values and views about God than I do, but we can come together on a common ground to help our communities. This is critical, because the Bible says, "pray for those in authority that you may lead peaceable lives." Obviously our peacefulness within society is dependent upon what’s happening in government. Therefore, we are called to pray for [those in authority], to influence them.

Clayton Perry: I am 23-years-old, and I have noticed that many people around my age have stopped attending church. What’s one way you get youth excited about church and create a ministry that really empowers young people?