Thank you for the question on ministry and political office, “How scripturally correct is it for someone called into full time ministry, especially, as a founding pastor to seek political office by election?”
As I ponder this question, I need to qualify my answer since there is limited information on the pastor’s situation. Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration about being called into full time ministry and seeking political office by election:
A. God may call someone to full time ministry, but it may not be a full time ministry position. In other words, there are circumstances when a minister is called by God but is led to a part time ministry. It may be to a small city or rural church which could only pay him/her a part time salary. Thus the pastor may have to supplement his income to support his family by working at a secular vocation. The Apostle Paul worked to support himself even though he was called into “full” time ministry (Acts 18:1–3).
With your founding pastor, I assume that he was called to full time ministry. Most church planters have to work in a secular job while doing ministry until the size of the church is able to support him full time. There are circumstances when a pastor called by God accepts a ministry that can only pay him a part time salary. It is a ministry of love and sacrifice.
B. God may be calling the pastor to transition into another kind vocation/work.
It is a common belief that when one is a pastor, s/he is a pastor for life. It is a lifetime calling. However there may be times that the Lord may call or lead someone to another work. Each pastor has to be continually sensitive to the Spirit’s leading in one’s life.
Can it be that your founding pastor senses that God is calling him to his ministry to go to another ministry or to another kind of work? It is highly commendable that he is willing to leave his ministry instead of just waiting for his retirement age.
C. There are pastors who are called into full time ministry, but may desire to broaden their influence beyond the church walls. He may sense that to tell others to be Salt and Light in this world, but yet he is sheltered in the church. He may feel that he needs to be a voice for the Christians and or for his community.
Depending on the political office, he may be able to serve in both realms. If it is a community position as a board member that is part time, it may be very doable. The pastor must know his boundaries and the priority of his calling.
The issue of separation between church and state is a controversial one. It must be remembered that one of the signers of the Constitution was a minister: John Witherspoon.
SUMMARY: It is better to pray for the pastor that he may know what the Lord wants him to do for him.
For more perspectives: