What do you look for in a presidential candidate?

THE REV. TERRY NYHUIS

Pastor of Congregational Life,

Crystal Cathedral Ministries

I look for a president with a mature character. My reference guide, the Bible, defines this as: having an honorable past and reputation, faithfulness to his spouse, self-control, gentleness, peace-loving, fair, disciplined, and having a strong personal belief system (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1). I am confident that such a person will lead with integrity and wisdom.

FATHER MIKE HEHER

Pastor, St. Irenaeus Church, Cypress

Find me a candidate to protect our innocent unborn children and to combat crime without the death penalty; someone who cares about the quarter of our nation’s preschoolers below the poverty line and 35,000 who die daily worldwide; and who will use our power to obtain quality education, health care and housing for all.

RABBI MARTIN S. COHEN

Congregation Eilat, Mission Viejo

Above all, I seek three things in a presidential candidate: intelligence (not just evidence of schooling, but true intellectual depth), integrity (not just the good fortune never to have been indicted, but the absolute inability to tolerate corruption) and compassion (not knee-jerk pity, but a pervasive, systemic sense of kindness.)

THE REV. DENNIS SHORT

Harbor Christian Church, Newport Beach

1. Experience and leadership in international affairs.

2. Commitment to reducing nuclear weapons and handguns.

3. Understanding of environmental problems and solutions.

4. Commitment to educational reform and increasing teacher salaries.

5. Commitment to a woman’s right to choose. Welfare rolls are filled with adults unwanted as children and drug babies of all races.

DAVID B. LEWIS

Stake President Garden Grove,

The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints

Candidates should seek truth as their standard, and desire freedom for the individual and equal justice for all. They should set the proper example and promote obeying, honoring and sustaining the laws of the land. I support those who have the highest ethical and moral standards, integrity, and who accept responsibility and accountability for their actions.

JOHN McCLURE

Pastor, Vineyard Newport Beach

Obviously, you’ll want to choose the candidate who will support the programs you feel would be best for the country. However, in the course of doing this, why not consider asking God for direction? The Lord promises, “Call unto Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and hidden things!” (Jeremiah 33:3) Ask God to show you which candidate is most likely to make decisions pleasing to God and that God will therefore bless. Ask the Lord to reveal to you which candidate will be most wise, honest and trustworthy. Finally, ask Him which candidate will lead toward the best future for our children, grandchildren, nation and world.

*

If you have an issue you’d like Questions of Faith to explore, you can e-mail us at ocreligion@latimes.com or fax us at (714) 966-7711.