There is a role for the church in political debate, while maintaining political neutrality and allowing individuals to make choices in line with their conscience. In the town and city halls throughout the country a great number of men and women serve in local politics, working through the complexities of communities. Social and community provision, undertaken because of our belief and Christian motivation, make a significant contribution to society and to the most needy. Our faith may be personal but it is never private. Together we can seek to make a difference as a motivating force for good.

Commissioner Betty Matear

 
 

I have always believed that Christians should be involved in party politics.  Joining the Christian group within the Conservative party, the Conservative Christian Fellowship was vital in my journey to becoming an MP.  The support and prayers of CCF members were so important and we really need more Christians involved in the all the parties and their respective Christian groups.

Andrew Selous MP

 
 

Encourage Christians to work in political parties and urge churches to support and pray for them as they do so.

Faith & Nation report, 2006, Evangelical Alliance

 
 

God is personal, but never private. And the Bible reveals a very public God… Private religion avoids the public consequences of faith.

Jim Wallis, God’s Politics

 
 

All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

 
 

“Many voters including Christians have become apathetic and cynical about engagement with the political process. Yet we have an amazing opportunity to make a Christian difference at this moment in our nation’s history.  What a privilege that from the beginning of creation we have been given a mandate to care for God’s world. This responsibility also involves choosing good stewards to order it and working and praying “for the good of our land”. In twenty first century Britain many people take democracy for granted. Yet it is fragile. We must take inspiration from those who have fought for democracy, be informed and then involved. This is our sacred duty. We must do all we can to “make the cross count” at this election.”

Nola Leach, Executive Director, CARE

 
 

“I cannot think of a moment in our history when it was more important for Christians to be asking themselves - and more critically God - whether they were called to play a part in politics.”

Steve Clifford, General Director, Evangelical Alliance

 
 

“Westminster is famous for offering new MPs a peg with their name on and a red ribbon below, so that they may take their sword off and hang it up safely before entering the Chamber.

“In the modern world there is great pressure to treat faith in the same way - to put it safely aside before entering our workplaces, and to pick it up again at the end of the day.

“I therefore welcome this new initiative, which will encourage Christians not to put their faith aside before entering the political fray, but instead make it the essential core of their daily work.”

Lord Carey of Clifton, Previous Archbishop of Canterbury

 
 

“I am delighted to endorse the Christians in Politics initiative. Our faith can never be a private affair. God’s call to each one of us is a call into the fullness of our humanity, into a life of love. That means, at least in part, a life of service to our fellow human beings. Whatever our individual gifts, and whatever our vocation, each one of us has so much to give.”

“Like you I hope that people of Christian faith, as well as other faiths, will consider very seriously whether they have a calling to a life of service within our democratic political system.”

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor