negotiate the multitude of challenges that face them.

And the church should be more proactive in its guardianship of values because many of society's leaders are also church members.

Bishop Vinton Anderson, who will be the keynote speaker at tonight's Bermuda Industrial Union banquet, shared these thoughts yesterday.

Rt. Rev. Anderson is also the president of the World Council of Churches, which has a membership of more than 560 million representing 322 denominations.

He said: "The people who have leadership in Government are people out of our churches for the most part.'' "They are supposed to be the respectable people who have been converted to a better way of life.'' Consequently, Rt. Rev. Anderson, the Presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, said the church should continue to press for significant involvement in the affairs of the state despite attempts to keep them separate.

"In the (United States) the state has been very ardent about recognising (the separation) and putting up blocks so that the church does not get involved in the life of the state,'' he said.

"And yet the real issue for us is how can the church not be in the affairs of the state ...

"It is the church that must keep on perpetuating and pushing that agenda,'' he added.

Tonight's banquet will initiate a multitude of events for the 15th annual Labour Day.

The banquet will take place at 7.30 p.m. at Southampton Princess Hotel.

Tickets are $40 each and are available from the BIU Headquarters and from members.

On Sunday, September 1, Bishop Anderson will deliver the sermon at St. Paul's AME Church. Guests and members may wish to arrive at the church early to ensure themselves seating.

The Labour Day march and festivities will follow on Monday, September 2.

Events to begin at 8.45 a.m., with the Walking Club at 8.45 a.m.

Next will be the Co-op Sponsored Road Race at 9 a.m.

At 9.30 a.m. guests are asked to congregate at BIU headquarters where the St.

Paul AME choir will sing and the Warwick Majorettes will perform.

The Bermuda Regiment Band will lead the march to Bernard Park and there will also be performances from the Rockettes and gombeys at around 11.30 a.m.

At the park there will be speeches, entertainment and food stalls. Admission is free.