Churches' Preparation Guide for 2010 General Election

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN BRITAIN

THE BAPTIST UNION OF GREAT BRITAIN

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND

CYTUN – CHURCHES TOGETHER IN WALES

RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)

THE SALVATION ARMY

SCOTTISH CHURCHES PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE

UNITARIAN AND FREE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND


NEWS RELEASE
22 January 2010

Churches launch guide to prepare for the 2010 General Election

Online resources designed to help Christians prepare for the General Election were launched today.

Eleven Churches and Church agencies have worked together to create an electronic booklet and website www.churcheselection.org.uk, which includes information on how to arrange a hustings meeting at local churches as well as a downloadable guide offering information on the important questions of this election campaign.

The election materials do not support a particular Church view or political party line, but aim to help people engage with a range of important issues facing the country, however they may decide to vote.

Rachel Lampard, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church who worked on the resources produced by Methodist Publishing and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, said: “We hope that the website will really help Christians engage with the election. The Faith in Politics booklet covers a whole range of policy issues, written by leading Christian experts and campaigners. The website also carries new guidance for groups wishing to hold hustings events during the election campaign, enabling people to register their interest in organising a hustings event and be put in touch with others in their constituency. We hope churches up and down the country will take advantage of these ecumenical resources.”

Faith in Politics covers issues including the economy, environment, health, education, equality and diversity, Europe, migration and sanctuary, poverty and criminal justice. The resource also provides a series of questions to facilitate personal or group reflection on political issues, or which could be used to quiz election candidates.

The Revd Dr Malcolm Brown, Director of the Church of England's Mission and Public Affairs Division, said: “I really hope these resources will be used by churches across the country to help them get ready for the General Election. They provide a rich range of material from which Christians and others can explore policy areas and form questions for their parliamentary candidates. The material points to the breadth of the impact that Westminster politics can have on the life of the nation, and I hope it will stimulate searching questions that will in turn help people make an informed judgement about how they use their vote.”

The Revd Bob Fyffe, General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, said “These resources will provide a rich source of information for churches and Churches Together groups across the four nations. The combination of these resources together with the online hustings information should ensure that Christians around the UK can fully engage in discussions with their prospective parliamentary candidates. The fact that the Churches have worked together to provide these resources is a strong statement in itself, and we hope that local churches and groups will fully engage in the democratic process.”

Source; Methodist News Service