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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. 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke |
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“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.” Nola Leach, Executive Director, CARE |
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“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 |
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Serving and leading in the parties |
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“I 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 |
In the last twenty years Christians have been at the forefront of many significant “single-issue” campaigns. As Christians in Politics we believe the time is ripe for many Christians to move beyond single-issue campaigning to full involvement with the mainstream political parties, believing that kingdom values should infuse every area of public policy, as the yeast works through the dough. We are following a call to be salt and light, seeing politics as service and mission, following Jesus’ model of incarnation and involvement.
Christians in Politics exists to encourage Christians to be actively involved in the mainstream parties.
When Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven”, he articulated a vision of the extension of his kingdom to every dimension of life, including politics.
There is not a square inch of domain of
our human existence over which
Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not
cry: ‘It is Mine!’
Abraham Kuyper
Politics is an incredible opportunity to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves”.
We are aware that Christians may not be in agreement with every policy of any of the three major parties, but this should not be a barrier to involvement. A party that truly represented our own personal views would have only one member. In the same way that even though we certainly do not agree on everything with other members of our churches, or with a spouse, we seek to work in partnership with others, building relationship and gaining influence.
Have you ever sent a campaigning postcard or email?
Who did you hope would read it? Someone who cared? Someone with a passion to make change happen?
We think you could be that person.
Don’t just send it. Be sent.
Don’t just post. Participate.
Get involved politically.
Nobody’s perfect.
Stop just shouting from the sidelines.
Can you see politics as mission?
Join us.
If God’s will is not being done in
politics, we need to ask ‘whose will is?’
Archbishop Desmond Tutu