Norwich, UK
UK churches have called for voters to not only participate in the upcoming UK election but to consider the type of future that would be best for the country.
The calls have come following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a snap election for 4th July.
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak debate, as ITV hosts the first head-to-head debate of the General Election, in Manchester, Britain, on 4th June, 2024, in this handout image. PICTURE: Jonathan Hordle/ITV/Handout via Reuters
The Church of England has launched a campaign with the hashtag #PrayYourPart designed to promote prayer and participation alongside a series of thematic daily reflections.
In a statement, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said it was time for people of all faiths and of none to “ask important questions about what kind of country we want to be”.
“We are facing epic challenges both to our country and our world: from questions of war and peace, to poverty and injustice and the very future of the Earth God has given us. We want to put prayer at the very heart of this campaign.”
Archbishop Cottrell subsequently added that he “hoped that when placing a cross on the ballot paper, people would be thinking about what’s influencing their decision and that as a Christian he was hoping that’s what’s going to be best for God’s world.”
The Evangelical Alliance recently published the results of a survey ‘Thinking faithfully about politics’ which revealed that among evangelicals there was strong desire to be engaged in political action, combined with frustration about the way the existing political situation works. As a result, Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, believes “this is a time to prayerfully consider how politics and our engagement can be part of our witness to Him and His Kingdom we are praying will come.”
In Wales, Andrew Johns, the Archbishop of Wales, called on “politicians, commentators and the public to engage with the process in a spirit of respect and civility and to recognise that, whatever our political views may be, we all share the same aim of pursuing the common good and creating a better society”.
Church leaders of all denominations, as well as leaders at Christian charities like CAFOD, have joined in appeals for voters to consider the wider issues surrounding this election, and to focus on the common good rather than individual concerns.
On a local level, churches are increasingly hosting hustings or similar events to enable parliamentary candidates to discuss concerns directly with the public.
At Ely Cathedral, for example, there will be an election hustings chaired by Lord Wilson of Dinton on 30th June in which the candidates will have to answer questions submitted by the general public. Elsewhere, groups of churches under the Churches Together umbrella are staging hustings and question time sessions.
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The St Vincent de Paul Society, meanwhile, has issued a plea for Catholics to regard this as an opportunity to encourage politicians to talk about key issues like poverty with people of faith. It points out that “this is not about party political affiliations, but rather about strengthening community participation as a local faith group, and practising a culture of encounter”.
Methodist churches are increasingly stressing the need to focus on issues relating to poverty during the election. Banners with the message ‘Lets End Poverty’ are being placed outside church buildings, so as to invite candidates to issue policies on the topics.
Rev Gill Newton, president of the Methodist Conference, and Deacon Kerry Scarlett, vice-president, said in a statement that poverty “devastates the lives of individuals and communities across the UK”.
“As Methodists, our concern for the poorest in society goes back to the very start of Methodism. We are asking that all party leaders set out how they will tackle the pressing injustice of poverty, so that all have enough to live on and to flourish.”