Church leaders' statement in advance of the General Election

"I came that they may have life, and have itabundantly."

Leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, theChurch of Scotland the Methodist Church and the United ReformedChurch have called for Christians to be guided by their faith indiscerning what sort of society they wish the new government tocreate, and have issued the following statement.

As we prepare for the General Election, we recognise thatChristians across our nations will prayerfully vote for a varietyof parties and candidates in good conscience. We celebrate the factthat Christian people are inspired by their faith to debatepassionately - and to disagree well - on how the United Kingdomshould be governed at this present moment.

While much of the debate around the election is rightly focusedon individual policies, it is also our duty to ask what sort ofsociety we would wish our government to build.  As Christianswe have to embrace the reality that our vision will never beachieved by humankind alone, and to look beyond our humantime-frames to the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is this futurehope that gives meaning and direction to present struggles.

Jesus offers us abundant life, life in all its fullness, and weare called to reflect this eternal promise on earth as it is inheaven. If we believe that all people are made in the image of God,we must surely pray, work and vote for a society in which allpeople are enabled to flourish and live life in all its fullness inthe here and now too.

This is a society in which everyone has enough food, resources,shelter and opportunity to succeed, and where people are not leftbehind or damaged by poverty and inequality.  

This is a society where our common humanity is valued andrespected, where people can find refuge, and where everyone cancontribute towards the common good.

This is a society that acts to protect God's creation, and seeksto be a peaceful influence in the world, promoting human rights,religious freedom and economic justice for all.

So we invite you to pray for everyone standing for office andfor all voters. We pray that Christians across our nations enteringthe polling booth on 8 June do so as followers of Jesus Christ,seeking to take part in creating a society which reflects God'skingdom of goodness and of justice. A society that encourages lifein all its fullness. 

Signatories: 

Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of GreatBritain

Rt Rev Dr Derek Browning, Moderator of the General Assembly ofthe Church of Scotland

Revd Dr Roger L Walton, President of the MethodistConference

Ms Rachel Lampard MBE, Vice-President of the MethodistConference

Revd Kevin Watson, General Assembly Moderator of the UnitedReformed Church