Can the new First Minister bring stability to Wales?

Can the new First Minister bring stability to Welsh politics? This question was asked in August when members of the Senedd were summoned from holiday to confirm Eluned Morgan as the sixth First Minister of Wales.

Following Vaughan Gething’s resignation in July, only Morgan – or Baroness Morgan of Ely – sought to replace him. After making headlines as the youngest member of the European Parliament in 1994, Morgan makes history again as the first female First Minister of Wales.

Morgan becomes First Minister at a time of deep uncertainty. Despite Labour's political hegemony in Wales since the 1920s, Morgan faces the challenge of bringing together a divided party after four cabinet members resigned from the Welsh government. Their resignation was in protest against a questionable donation received by Gething and his handling of a controversial sacking. As First Minister, Morgan must deal with the long NHS waiting lists, respond to farmers’ backlash against the agricultural subsidies scheme, and convince another political party to support her budget.

God’s call to engage

Evangelicals in Wales are called to engage with Morgan’s career as First Minister, regardless of whether we agree or disagree with her politics. As Christians, we are called by God to pray for our political leaders. The Apostle Paul urges Timothy to pray for those in authority so that Christians ‘may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness’ (1 Timothy2:1-2). Morgan’s work as First Minster will undoubtedly be challenging and unforgiving, especially in the current political climate. For this reason, we should pray that God would give her wisdom and discernment. After all, Welsh Christians want a good leader who will govern with integrity and humility.

As well as praying for our leaders, Christians are also called to be ‘salt’ in the world. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says to His disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth’ (Matthew 5:13). Just as salt is used to preserve food from decay, Christians are called to preserve this world from evil by influencing it for good for God’s glory. This call to be ‘salt’ applies to every sphere of life, including politics.

Although Wales has a rich heritage of Christian engagement with politics, which includes the legacy of Nonconformists such as Robert Everett(1791–1875) and Gwilym Hiraethog (1802–1883), few evangelicals sit in the Senedd today. While this reflects a 21st Century Wales where Christians are a minority (43.6% according to the 2021 census), evangelicals should not retreat to the periphery of society. We are called by Jesus to be present and involved in our local and national communities. Therefore, as well as praying for the new First Minister, evangelicals should ask God to place more Christians in Welsh politics to flavour it with good influence.

Ultimate certainty

Can Eluned Moran bring stability and certainty to Wales? Can she bring certainty and security to Welsh families and their communities? While we pray for the new First Minister and seek to be ‘salt’ in the world, true certainty and assurance can only come to Welsh lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. After all, ultimate certainty is the assurance of knowing we have fellowship with the God who made us. Therefore, as Morgan starts her term, what communities in Wales ultimately need is not a renewed confidence in politics, but to be renewed by the gospel that brings eternal hope and certainty.