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T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E E VA N G E L I C A L A L L I A N C E
POLITICS SPECIAL
General Election 2015: time to take the lead
EVANGELICAL ENGAGEMENT
The results of our politics survey are revealed
IN YOUR WORDS
60 SECONDS
POLITICAL LEADERS RESPOND
Miliband, Clegg and Farage comment on survey
GOOD QUESTION
BIG INTERVIEW
PASTOR OF POLITICS
Faith’s alive in Westminster, says the Speaker’s Chaplain
CONNECT
ON THE JOB
MAR/APRIL 2015
NEWS COMMENT FEATURES
IDEA MAGAZINE / 2
Amaris Cole: “Jesus never shied away from engaging with the issues of the day. In Romans we’re called to be good citizens and in 1 Timothy to pray for our leaders. Esther and Mordecai lobbied the authorities of their time and Daniel successfully engaged with the society of his day through a senior government role, so it’s right that we get involved with politics, too.”
idea-torial Will you Show Up?
With the general election fast approaching, I find myself dwelling on the proud history of voting this country has. A basic form of political engagement, I’m grateful for those who died so that I might be able to go to a polling station on Thursday, 7 May 2015 and vote. And it seems the majority of you feel the same way. The Evangelical Alliance has had a busy few months with more than 2,000 of you answering our Faith in politics? survey. The results are encouraging, showing an amazing number of evangelicals are politically engaged. Turn to page 12 for a full analysis. As we have explored in this magazine previously, Jesus never shied away from engaging with the issues of the day. In Romans we’re called to be good citizens and in 1 Timothy to pray for our leaders. Esther and Mordecai lobbied the authorities of their time and Daniel successfully engaged with the society of his day through a senior government role, so our responsibility to engage is clear. When researching for this edition, one MP told me it will be the most uncertain election for a generation. Parties who barely got their deposits back – the forfeit for not gaining a large enough percentage of the vote – are expecting success like never before. It really does feel like a new era of politics is about to begin. Perhaps that makes it even harder to decide who to vote for? To make that a little easier, we have asked the largest five national parties about their policies on the issues that you’ve said matter most. Turn to page 22 for their positions on religious liberty, human trafficking, poverty and more. We have also looked beyond the party politics to see what life is like for those in Westminster who don’t sit in the House. Staffer Rebecca Smith explains what it’s like to work behind the scenes. The spiritual health of parliament is a concern to many Christians. Is it soon to become a secular space? Not under the watch of Rose Hudson-Wilkin. The Chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons spent 60 seconds with idea to tell us more. I was encouraged by what I heard, and I hope you will be too. Amaris Cole Editor P.s this edition of idea goes far beyond the magazine. Join the conversation and see the interviews, articles and policies in full online, by visiting eauk.org/idea, or go to Twitter and tell us your views. Send your tweet to @idea_mag and remember to use the hashtag #ShowUp
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CONTENTS
FEATURES 6 Show Up
We launch our exciting new campaign.
14-15 Party leaders respond
Party leaders tell us their views on our politics survey.
17
16 Inspire Awards
The Inspire Awards are back. Who will you nominate?
60 Seconds… with Rose Hudson-Wilkin The Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons speaks to idea.
28 Switching voters
Who will you vote for and why?
REGULARS 4-5 Connect
News from the Alliance.
20-22 The Big Interview
Five MPs speak about their life, both inside and outside politics.
23 Leaders’ questions
Does politics has a place in the pulpit?
25 idea-list
24 Good Question Can I vote for a party when I fundamentally disagree with them on an issue?
Want to become politically active? Here’s how.
32 Letters
idea readers respond.
34 Last word
General director Steve Clifford writes…
If you’re inspired by this politics edition support our parliamentary advocacy work eauk.org/supportadvocacy
30 Culture What can we learn from The West Wing?
Head Office Evangelical Alliance has moved:
Email address changes to members@eauk.org
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Evangelical Alliance leadership team Steve Clifford, Helen Calder, Fred Drummond, Elfed Godding, Dave Landrum, Peter Lynas, Chine Mbubaegbu
Wales Office 20 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PT tel: 029 2022 9822 wales@eauk.org Scotland Office Evangelical Alliance Scotland, Blair Court, 100 Borron Street, Port Dundas, Glasgow, G4 9XG tel: 0141 353 0150 scotland@eauk.org
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MARCH/APRIL 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 3
CONNECT
News from the Alliance
Excitement building for GATHERNORTH Tickets are selling fast for GATHERNORTH, but there is still time for leaders to secure a place at the conference in March. Christians who desire transformation across the north of England are being called to attend the event, which will be taking place 3 to 4 March 2015 at Media City in Salford. The two-day event is to encourage unity movements in the north to join with church leaders, Christian organisations and Christian leaders in all cultural spheres to spend a couple of days listening to God and each other about His future for the region.
GATHERNORTH will also be providing an exciting range of tools and resources for delegates who attend, as well as ongoing support throughout the following year. Although this focuses on the north of England, other cities and towns from the Midlands and the south are invited to join. GATHERNORTH will be held at Studio4, Dallas Court, Salford Quays, Manchester on Tuesday, 3 March to Wednesday, 4 March, 2015. Tickets are still available at eauk.org/gather-booking
Your pre-general election prayer guide
Place your cross here
Ask the Alliance Do you have any questions about politics? Is there a part of the political system that you’re unsure of, or something about parliament that you don’t understand? Now is your chance to have all your queries answered. In the run-up to the election, we are giving you a chance to pick the brains of our election experts. Danny and Amelia from the advocacy team, will be taking your questions on Tuesday, 5 May, from 12pm to 2pm. You can post your questions on the Evangelical Alliance Facebook page facebook.com/evangelicalalliance, or via Twitter, by sending your tweet to @EAUKnews with the hashtag #ShowUp. Log on in your lunch break and brush up on your politics before casting your vote on Thursday, 7 May 2015.
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IDEA MAGAZINE / 4
Invite the Evangelical Alliance to talk on God and politics The run-up to the general election this year is a great opportunity to look at what the Bible has to say about politics and how Christians should engage in public life. The Evangelical Alliance has speakers available across the UK to come to your church and speak either at a Sunday service or a special event. If you’re interested please email info@ eauk.org.
News from the Alliance
CONNECT
The general election is just around the corner – but trust in politicians is at an all-time low. Something has to change. Will you help? Based on our latest research report, only six per cent of evangelical Christians – less than one in 10 – think politicians can be trusted to keep manifesto promises. No doubt as a result, nine out of 10 of us want to see more Christians getting involved in party politics. We want to see leaders who are honourable, who act with integrity, who give voice to our concerns about religious liberty and the needs of the poor, who speak out on behalf of the people. That’s why we’re asking for your help to train and support Christians to be leaders in public life. That’s why we’re asking for your help to train and support Christians to be leaders in public life.
Your support today could get Christians involved with our Public Leadership programme. With your help, potential leaders will gather to explore Christian leadership, and attend workshops on how they can speak up for good, where that’s in politics, media, education or another sphere of society. They’ll receive resources and training, and will benefit from our team’s expertise. They’ll be connected with others committed to following Christ’s call to go into all the word. As a result, they’ll be equipped to be a voice for good and for God in their communities and beyond.
So please give a gift today to train and support public leaders at eauk.org/springappeal
CARE join call for Christians to engaGE Alliance member organisation CARE is launching a website to guide Christians in the issues that matter, such as marriage, social justice and human trafficking. CARE’s chief executive Nola Leach said: “The Christian vote matters more than ever, especially as the opinion polls routinely show how close the election is going to be. How Christians vote and in what numbers will undoubtedly have a significant bearing on the overall result. As Christians it is an extension of the creation mandate to vote wisely, engaGE15 will equip us to think through the issues carefully and respond accordingly.” The charity say the new website will provide up-to-date resources to help believers engage with important political topics. MARCH/APRIL 2015
“Above all else, that’s why we’ve launched engaGE15, to equip believers for this general election because elections matter and the freedom to exercise our vote is a luxury not afforded to people everywhere. The website has plenty of other content - from a database of MPs’ voting habits, to video content, to an election blog.
Headlines: Scotland It is now possible to get regular, specific news from Evangelical Alliance Scotland through the new Headlines:Scotland email. This email contains the latest news, upcoming events, media coverage and prayer points from the work across Scotland and fills a previous gap in the Scottish communications. Sign up by visiting eauk.org/scotland and going to the Headlines:Scotland tab. Also, don’t forget the Alliance Scotland Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“CARE has a long history of encouraging Christians to get out and use their vote and we are confident engaGE15 will prove to be an invaluable resource throughout this historic election.” The website is available at engage15.org.uk IDEA MAGAZINE / 5
NEWS
Decisions are made by those who show up There may be glaring flaws with our political system, but the simple matter is that decisions are made by those who show up. In our recent survey Faith in Politics? 94 per cent of respondents said they intend to vote in this year’s general election. This is fantastic given that only 54 per cent of voters showed up at the last general election. Yet these same people say they trust the government less than they did at the last election and are less likely to believe what politicians say. This is a disappointing reflection of the current state of affairs – the result of enduring a number of public spending scandals, a lack of leadership and vision coming from political parties and an increasing sense of frustration at being ignored by the MPs we have voted in to represent us. Given this growing sense of disenchantment among voters it’s perhaps surprising that so many evangelicals plan to vote. This probably reflects a pervading belief that we have a responsibility to vote, and also value our heritage. Evangelicals have a rich tradition of political engagement, often leading the way in securing freedom and bringing about positive social change. William Wilberforce, along with others, fought tirelessly for the abolition of slavery, better education and fair working conditions. While today people like Lloyd Cook, Gavin Shuker MP, Simon Woolley, AnnMarie Wilson, Les Isaac, Fiona Bruce MP and Nims Obunge follow in this proud history of public leadership. There may be glaring flaws with our political system, but the simple matter is that decisions are made by those who show up. At the 2010 general election, 76 per cent of over-65s voted; a far higher turnout than the average 65 per cent. Arguably this is reflected with white, older, men getting a better deal from policy. The politics of protest, such as not voting, is legitimate, however it’s not enough on its own. Our democratic system is underpinned by voting, so for this reason it’s a particularly powerful and important way to make our voices heard. IDEA MAGAZINE / 6
Image taken from the Show Up video. You can watch the video at election2015.eauk.org
And voting is just the start of engaging in politics. We’re passionate about seeing Christians participating beyond the ballot box and contributing positively and constructively to our political system. Locally and nationally, politics desperately needs an increase of salt and light. Earlier this year the Show Up campaign and video were launched by the Evangelical Alliance and Christians in Politics in response to the growing disillusionment many voters feel towards politics in the UK. Show Up calls Christians to more positive political engagement and aims to inspire and equip people to participate. More than 30 other organisations, including the Church of England, CARE, Tearfund, Christian Aid, United Christian Broadcasters, The Salvation Army and Premier Media, have joined this growing coalition. The response has been overwhelming with churches and individuals up and down the country keen to get involved. Biblically-based and beautifully animated, the video is designed for use at conferences and church gatherings as a provocative discussion-starter and call to action. As Christians we’ve spent too long shouting from the side-lines rather than getting on the pitch of political life. Now more than ever we need to participate in our society and engage in the business of politics – warts and all. If we’re frustrated with the way our council is run, let’s do something about it and stand
as a local councillor. If we think political parties could be doing a better job let’s sign up and start working with them to see good candidates selected, MPs supported and encouraged and sound policy developed. And let’s speak up. If we’re concerned about laws being passed by parliament, let’s meet with our MP to discuss it, encourage our family, friends and church to write to their MPs, start a petition or make a submission to the relevant select committee. In the lead up to the general election on 7 May 2015 and beyond, we’ll be speaking into the current political context with articles, guides on hustings and voting, blogs, videos, interviews and more in an effort to encourage Christians and equip them with the tools to play their part. Show Up will be taking the campaign to Spring Harvest and to churches and organisations across the UK. If you’d like to have a speaker come to your church please email info@eauk.org Our system may not be perfect, but we’re privileged to live in a country that’s underpinned by a democratic political system. This is in stark contrast to many countries around the world where people are fighting for the basic political rights we so often dismiss in our frustration when things don’t go our way. We all have a valuable part to play in politics. Let’s own that responsibility and get involved with shaping our nation. It’s OK to be frustrated. To be angry. To be disappointed but never let yourself be indifferent.
MARCH/APRIL 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 7
SCOTLAND
eauk.org/scotland
Time for Scotland to hit the headlines again… Show Up 2015
by Kieran Turner, public policy officer for Scotland Evangelical Alliance
It’s barely a few months since the September referendum on independence captivated the nation and headlines across the globe. Added to the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup, 2014 was the year Scotland made a mark on the world.
hold a local event or needs advice, contact the Alliance Scotland office and we will gladly support and resource you.
Whatever our views on the outcome of the referendum, this was an exercise in democracy unprecedented in modern times, with 86 per cent of the population showing up to vote. If we manage that in 2015 politicians will be in political dreamland.
More than 300 youth workers gathered again in Aviemore in January for Deep Impact, the Scottish National Christian Youth Work Conference, which comes under the banner of the Evangelical Alliance. Youth workers from all corners of Scotland, including Stornoway, Troon, the Borders and Aberdeenshire, gathered for a fantastic weekend of input and refreshment in the snowy Highlands. This year’s main speaker, Matt Summerfield of Urban Saints, encouraged delegates with a series of personal reflections on what it means to walk closely with Jesus. Early feedback has been excellent, with many on the weekend taking the opportunity for prayer and reflection on how to apply this into both their individual lives and also into their own youth work contexts. These talks and other seminars are now available on the Deep Impact website: deepimpact.org.uk. A number of media outlets also picked up on the conference, a recognition of the size and scale of what Christian youth work brings into communities across the nation.
Of course, the Church showed up as well, with debates up and down the country, national prayer days, and a voice in the debate. Perhaps the Evangelical Alliance asked the best question of the referendum: What Kind of Nation? and Christians wrestled with how to pray and build this better nation. Questions of identity and vision, hope and justice, are timeless if we engage and choose to Show Up. But all of that was last year. This year, perhaps unbelievably, promises to be just as significant, with potentially the way Scotland votes swinging the general election and having a huge impact on the next Westminster government. If polls are to be believed, the SNP are likely to take a sizeable number of seats, ending up with anything between 20 and 50 MPs – depending on which poll you take. Anywhere in the midrange of these polls could see them overtaking the Liberal Democrats to become the third biggest UK party – again, if polls are to be believed. Crucially if this is to happen, many of these seats would be from Labour MPs – Labour currently has 41 seats – seriously impacting Ed Miliband’s ability to form a majority government. In a hung parliament scenario the SNP are on record as saying they would not work with the Conservatives, but would consider a deal with Labour on certain conditions, such as the removal of Trident nuclear weapons from Scotland.
In 2014, 24 Scottish MPs and MSPs engaged with Christians as part of the What Kind of Nation? Events, as well as tens of thousands more Scots, reading about the Church in the media. But that was last year… In 2015 it’s time for the Scottish church to once again Show Up.
Making a Deep Impact
All of these outcomes are speculative and depending on personal politics, any possible make up of a potential UK government, including UKIP, Greens or other parties, could be a good or a bad thing. What this does do is serve to simply highlight that this year, of all years, Christians need to Show Up. We need to show up in prayer for the election, for those standing, for Christians working across the political spectrum. We need to show up in action, by contacting our candidates, holding hustings, engaging with our communities and the parties and in good conscience casting our vote. As part of the Show Up campaign, Evangelical Alliance Scotland is here to help. Along with colleagues at Care for Scotland, we will be offering advice and assistance, helping to promote events and raising awareness with politicians and the media of what the Church is doing in the run up to the election. If your church wants to IDEA MAGAZINE / 8
Could the Scottish vote upset the election result? Predictions suggest it could stop a majority Labour government.
WALES
eauk.org/wales
Join me in a five-year resolution Back in December 2014 the Welsh Assembly debated assisted dying on the principles set out in Lord Falconer’s Westminster Parliamentary Bill.
by Matthew Rees
The Assembly doesn’t have the power to legislate on this issue, but as often happens, the principle of the matter was debated. This can be used as a rhetorical device to demonstrate the position of those who represent Wales in the Assembly to the wider world. While the Assembly rejected the proposal by 21 votes to 12, it is worth noting that 20 Assembly members abstained, deciding not to offer a position. The abstaining Assembly members were of as much interest to me as the result itself. While I cannot speak for the members who abstained in this debate, I think it is interesting that a third of the 60 strong legislature did not find themselves on one side of the debate or the other. They were at a loss as to the right thing to do. As we move towards the 2015 election, it would seem the UK is troubled by a lack of obvious choices. Just as was the case for the Assembly members who abstained in the Assembly vote, things don’t appear black or white for many in the political choices we are asked to make. No longer can we rest on the traditional two-party
Taking time to think, pray and work things out in light of God’s word, we should seek to be active political citizens over the next five years. system swinging from left to right, either. We must now contend with the reality of four or five political parties influencing UK politics. Hung parliaments and coalition politics look like they are here to stay. We live in a world where the ‘Mondeo man’ might vote UKIP and ‘Red Clydside’ might leave Labour for the Scottish National Party. It’s all very difficult to decipher. Commentators have remarked that this could be the most tumultuous parliamentary term in recent history. In many ways, this uncertain future can offer us as Christians an opportunity. The political world may be in flux, but we can be certain of a few things. As Christians we should take some time at the beginning of this year to consider where we stand on a few issues.
MARCH/APRIL 2015
For example, it is highly likely that whichever party forms a government after the next election, there will be a debate on assisted dying in the House of Commons at some point during the five-year term. Where do we stand on this issue and what are we going to do about it? Then there’s the plight of the persecuted minority Christian communities in the Middle East. Are we going to take the time to ask our government to offer them asylum in this country? If not, who else is going to do it? Do we feel a responsibility as Christians to persuade the government to legislate against human trafficking? Or are we happy to let this continue in our towns and cities? There are, of course, many more issues that we need to take a position on. Many people will of course have their own issues they hold dearly. What are you going to do about it over the next five years? In a political world with its ups and downs, let’s stick a stake in the ground. Let’s make a mark. Let’s make not a one year resolution, but a five-year resolution for the whole of the next parliamentary term, to work out our position on a whole raft of issues and to try and make a difference. Taking time to think, pray and work things out in light of God’s word, we should seek to be active political citizens over the next five years. We can get involved through meeting or writing to our MP, AM, MSP and MLA. You might even want to get involved with Tearfund’s bid to remind politicians at the next election how important it is that they engage with the issue of global poverty. It might be that your greatest frustration is that no one’s talking about the issue you think is important. Start a blog or get tweeting— that’ll get people talking. If the next parliamentary term is going to be volatile, why don’t we decide to be a constant? Why don’t we take the Swiss theologian Karl Barth’s advice and be, as the Church, an “unreliable ally” to the state? That is an ally who’s always there, always ready to take part and to take our place as responsible citizens, but who also ask the difficult questions, put pressure on our elected representatives and holds them to account. Will you join me in a five-year resolution to make a difference? Matthew Rees is a PhD candidate at Aberystwyth University, exploring the impact of devolution on faith communities in the UK. Matt has also been involved with the Welsh Alliance’s New Generation Leaders programme, and worked in the advocacy team.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 9
NORTHERN IRELAND
eauk.org/northernireland
The general election – A Northern Ireland perspective by David Smyth, public policy and advocacy officer for the Northern Ireland Evangelical Alliance There are 18 Westminster constituencies in Northern Ireland. Each voter casts one vote and each constituency returns one MP through the ‘first past the post’ system. These are the bare facts and mechanics of the process. The real excitement – at least for political wonks like me – is in the weeks of polling and the spin that lie ahead, culminating in the election night count. Northern Ireland, like Wales and Scotland, has a strange relationship with Westminster. Distanced by geography, history and cultural identity, it’s no wonder that things sometimes get lost in translation. General election issues that are of great importance in Northern Ireland may barely register in Westminster, and vice-versa. With just weeks to go to the next election, we thought it might be useful to highlight a few plot twists to look out, and pray for, between now and 7 May. Stormont House Agreement - News of a political agreement right before Christmas came as a surprise to many. At the time of writing, the agreement has still to be ratified by a number of executive parties, and crucial details have yet to be agreed. We welcome the fact that broad heads of agreement have been reached on difficult issues like welfare reform and the past. There will be a temptation for all parties to distance themselves from difficult parts of the agreement – to spin it unfairly and to attack each other. In the midst of healthy and robust political exchange, please pray that a spirit of agreement, honour and mutual concern for all our people would set the tone as election season gets into full swing. Siege - In years gone by, election time in Northern Ireland was marked by scaremongering and a retreat by particular parties to the ‘safety’ of the trenches. In some ways this is not unique to Northern Ireland, but here the consequences can be much more damaging to community relationships. When you see fear being used as weapon, please pray for voices of hope, light and the perfect love, which drives it out. Commit to being one of those voices.
Politicians who profess Christ as Lord of all the earth cannot point to just one or two issues of Christian concern. Flags and parades - These remain two of the most contentious ‘identity’ issues in Northern Ireland today. Flags and parades are mentioned in the Stormont House Agreement, but little detail has yet been put forward to comprehensively deal with them. In light of the City Hall flag fall-out, and the parading situation at Twadell, there remains huge potential for conflict over these issues, especially approaching an election. But there is also the prospect of new relationships and a new framework of engagement on contentious issues. Please pray for creative, practical and neighbourly solutions - that issues of contention would be redeemed to become cause for celebration. IDEA MAGAZINE / 10
The ‘moral’ issues - Perhaps you think straight away of same-sex marriage and abortion? Northern Irish law is very different from the rest of the UK on these issues and we want to see marriage and life continue to be protected. However, I recently wrote a piece in idea about the false dichotomy between issues of private morality and social justice. These labels are not mutually exclusive. There is no doubt that the views of candidates on marriage and abortion is of great interest to evangelical Christians in Northern Ireland, and rightly so, some issues will attract a higher priority than others when it comes to how we vote. But what about the candidate’s policies on national debt, consumerism, reconciliation, creation-care, adoption and wealth inequality? Politicians who profess Christ as Lord of all the earth can’t point to just one or two issues of Christian concern. So let’s pray for integrity in candidate and constituent alike as together we navigate these difficult decisions. Specific constituencies – Some results in Northern Ireland may be entirely predictable, but it’s that element of nothing being certain in politics and every vote counting that keeps things interesting. In fact with the retirement of some politicians, the end of ‘double-jobbing’, many new faces, a changing social landscape and ‘electoral pacts’ being talked about, there is no doubt that some local constituency races will be fascinating. Our office is based in East Belfast and we intend to hold a hustings there in one of our local member churches. Keep an eye out for more details. The left field issues – Maybe it’s too much West Wing, but keep an eye out for those ‘you couldn’t make it up’ stories that come completely out of the blue in every election. Northern Ireland specialises in them. In the meantime by contacting your local political representatives and grappling with these issues you can help shape the public square. We hope you enjoy and engage with Northern Ireland and Westminster in 2015.
ON THE JOB
A day in the life of a Christian in Parliament Rebecca Smith is a senior parliamentary assistant. She works for the Rt Hon Stephen O’Brien, the Conservative MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire and the prime minister’s envoy to the Sahel at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. She lives in London with friends. “I wake up about half past six. If I’m going to do anything spiritual I have to do it in the morning as I just want to go to sleep at night. So I wake up early and try to spend some time with God. Then I get ready, leave the house at 8.30am and walk to parliament. The first thing I do is check my boss’s emails – he gets hundreds. I then work out who needs to deal with what. I run a team of four, including myself. No day is the same, but I always have a coffee before I crack on. I’ve been working for Stephen since January 2014. I’d always wanted to work in Westminster since doing work experience here aged 18, but after university I worked in the European Parliament in Brussels with CARE for a year. I really wanted to be in London, but God had other ideas. I love how God knows what is best for us, better than we know ourselves. After that, I worked for the Christian Conservative Fellowship until the 2005 election, when I went to work for David Burrowes [MP for Enfield Southgate and chairman of the Conservative Christian Fellowship] for five years. Following the 2010 election, I felt I should leave politics and moved on. My previous church asked me to work for them so I did that for three years. Fast forward to a disastrous job at a tech start-up and I was looking to come back to politics. Having worked for a Christian MP, I knew I needed to work for an MP I respected. For me, a key thing when working in politics, is being able to respect your boss’ decisions, or at least understand their heart for making that decision, even if it’s not something you agree with. It’s about working for someone who shares similar values. I wouldn’t expect anything other than being able to be a Christian in the workplace, and Stephen is really open to having Christians working for him. When the role came up, I knew it was too good to turn down. My predecessor described my role as “running him and running the office”, which sounds a little arrogant, but it is about supporting the MP in everything he does, both in Westminster and the constituency. I have overarching responsibility for the team of people supporting him on a daily basis. As the prime minister’s envoy to the Sahel, he works a lot with the Foreign Office (FCO). Today he’s meeting with the Egyptian ambassador, so that’s the kind of thing I would arrange – working with the team at the FCO. With the election approaching, it’s about ensuring his constituency role continues really smoothly. Once the campaign starts we can’t use work time on party politics as we’re paid by parliament, but we will continue to deal with constituents’ concerns, just from Cheshire, not Westminster. MARCH/APRIL 2015
Rebecca Smith
Every day in Westminster is different. Today I started the day making enquiries about a planning appeal being held for a big housing development in a small village in Cheshire. The residents aren’t happy. I break for lunch and eat in parliament with colleagues and other contacts in Westminster. There are lots of Christians working in parliament who I’ve known for years as well as lots of new faces; God does seem to keep bringing people here. I’m also chair of governors at a local school. I’ve recently been balancing the challenges of a new head teacher and an Ofsted inspection, so I often make calls during my lunchtime to resolve any problems that arise. Then I head back to my desk to deal with whatever has come up that day. Today I’m trying to make sure Stephen can get from West Africa to North Africa in 24 hours. Often in the afternoon, I spend two or three hours talking through things with Stephen before heading back to the office to action everything or divvy it out to the rest of the team. There are also times when I have to act on his behalf – in meetings and on the phone. I’ve worked in Westminster for 12 years, on and off, and I’m still amazed that I get to work in this incredible place, which I absolutely love. I finish about half six or seven, depending on what is going on in the office. I then either walk home and cook dinner, or head out for dinner with friends. If I’m in for the night, I might catch up on Suits or House of Cards, or plan for Sunday school at my church, St Sepulchres, which I head up. After pottering around at home, I usually go to bed around 11.30pm and am always asleep by midnight.” IDEA MAGAZINE / 11
Faith in politi F
TURE
by Lucy Olofinjana, research co-ordinator for the Evangelical Alliance
With the general election fast approaching, the media is abuzz with talk of party positions and responses to the hot issues of the day. But what do evangelicals in the UK really think of politics, and are they being salt and light in this area? These are just some of the themes the Alliance explored in our research Faith in politics? – completed by more than 2,000 evangelicals.
So what did we find? Disillusioned with politics Like much of the general population, many evangelicals are disillusioned with UK politics. Only six per cent – less than one in 10 – think politicians can be trusted to keep manifesto promises. Half say they are less likely to believe what a politician says than they were five years ago, and six in 10 say they’ve become less trusting of the government. One respondent commented that: “There is a huge loss of trust and respect for political leaders, which needs to be regained for our system to work”. The government’s introduction of same-sex marriage was one issue particularly mentioned as a cause for distrust. Only a quarter think the secular political system is fair to Christians and the majority believe that none of the major parties support Christian values. One respondent with particularly strong feelings wrote: “Party politics now seem devoid of any recognition of the importance of faith in God… the vital role of Christianity in shaping our political freedoms seems forgotten.” IDEA MAGAZINE / 12
Engaged in politics Yet, despite obvious disillusionment, evangelicals are not shying away from engaging in politics. Eight in 10 said they are certain to vote in the next general election – double that of the national population. Almost a quarter said they’re more aware of how they can get involved in political issues than they were five years ago, and three in 10 say they are very interested in politics, with another 56 per cent fairly interested. We’ve found that evangelicals are a lot more engaged in political activity than the average person, with 78 per cent having signed an e-petition last year, compared to nine per cent of the general population, 57 per cent having contacted a local councillor or parliamentarian, compared with eight per cent, and 28 per cent having taken an active part in a campaign, compared to just two per cent. A substantial four per cent also said they have served as an MP or local councillor. The wide range of political activity evangelicals are involved in includes party membership, campaigning for asylum seekers and hosting prayer meetings for the local MP.
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– joining credit unions, increasing debt awareness and providing advocacy support, running a foodbank and homeless shelter. But the language of ‘politics’ is avoided. Actions encouraged tend towards practical alleviation of the symptoms of poverty, rather than engaging in campaigns over systemic causes.”
Issues evangelicals care about Interestingly, while the general population considered race/ immigration to be the most crucial issue in the UK today, selected by 21 cent, only six per cent of evangelicals thought this was the UK’s key concern. Evangelicals instead considered poverty/inequality to be the most important issue facing the UK today. The key issues that are of concern to evangelicals and will affect their vote are religious liberty and freedom of expression, poverty alleviation, human trafficking, same-sex marriage and euthanasia. Turn to page 22 to see the party’s views on these key issues.
Who to vote for? We asked evangelicals how they decide who to vote for. Half said they pray about their vote, but just one in 10 felt convinced that God had led them to vote in a particular way. It’s clear that evangelicals prioritise the common good – when voting in a general election, their top consideration is whether the party helps others in need. Personal integrity is also very important, with evangelicals prioritising a candidate who’s honourable and not corrupt, has strong convictions and sticks to them and has a good record as a local MP or councillor. A quarter – 24 per cent – are still undecided which way they will vote on 7 May. With only 55 per cent saying they’re going to vote for the same party as they did in 2010, we’ve seen evidence of a shift away from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Discounting the undecideds, if there was a general election tomorrow, 31 per cent said they would vote Labour, 29 per cent Conservative, 12 per cent UKIP, 11 per cent Liberal Democrat, 11 per cent others and six per cent Green.
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Politics and the pulpit A third have been explicitly encouraged by their church to vote, and another third to support or oppose a particular policy. In the last year churches are most likely to have talked about the issue of UK poverty, followed by marriage, international religious freedom/ persecution, international poverty and human trafficking. But more contentious issues such as Europe, tax justice and immigration appear to be avoided. And churches clearly steer away from being politically biased, with only two per cent saying their church has explicitly encouraged them to support or oppose a particular candidate. It seems many churches shy away from direct political engagement and campaigning, instead focusing on social needs. Six in 10 of our panel agreed that Christians are good at tackling the symptoms of social problems, but not the underlying issues, with one person describing the situation in their church: “My church encourages involvement in issues that I would describe as politically relevant
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There’s clearly recognition that we need to see more Christians willing to get involved in party politics and stand for election – 92 per cent agreed – and many told us that the Bible inspires them to engage in politics. One person shared: “Throughout his ministry, Jesus was highly involved in the politics of his day – he constantly interacted with, and thoroughly annoyed, the chief priests, Pharisees and teachers of the law – first century equivalent of MPs and councillors – by challenging them about the bad things they were doing and saying. He also lived a life demonstrating values of the kingdom of God.” However others admitted struggling to practically connect their faith to politics. One said: “I have absolutely no idea what the Bible teaches or does not teach about politics.” With only seven per cent having been explicitly encouraged by their church to get involved in party politics, this report can inspire us to consider creative ways our churches can encourage people to think through political issues and be salt and light in our local and national communities. Visit election2015.eauk.org to find out how you and your church can engage with the election. Visit thepublicleader.com to find out more about engaging in public life. Visit eauk.org/surveys to access the report Faith in politics? This research was carried out in partnership with MAF, Christians Against Poverty and Prospects.
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The leaders respond… We asked the leaders of the largest national parties with Westminster representation to respond to our Faith in Politics? survey. As the results show evangelicals are politically engaged, their votes clearly matter to politicians. The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, leader of the Labour Party This report from the Evangelical Alliance is a welcome reminder of the important contribution that Christians make to life and society in the United Kingdom. It is heartening to see from this evidence that evangelical Christians are so committed to engaging in our democratic life and so determined to speak up for those who might otherwise be forgotten. Over recent months it has been my privilege to meet with many Christian leaders. Time and again I have been inspired by their work and challenged by their example. I pay tribute to the countless Christians fighting poverty through foodbanks, the 100,000 volunteers serving our nation’s children on a weekly basis and the churches and charities working tirelessly to alleviate suffering overseas. Thanks to these and other initiatives too numerous to mention, our country is made better, stronger, more united and just as a result of the work and witness of the Christian community. As the leader of the Labour Party, I am proud of our movement’s roots in the Christian tradition. That tradition underpins our conviction about the importance of social action and our belief in the power of community transformation. One of my hopes for the years ahead is that we can find new ways to work in partnership in pursuit of our shared goals without compromising the independence and identity of churchbased initiatives. I would like to thank all those who completed the survey and the many more whose views it represents. By highlighting issues of poverty, slavery and religious liberty, respondents have demonstrated the continuing commitment of Christians to love their neighbour. The Labour Party shares your determination to combat poverty, increase equality and promote religious freedom across the world. We look forward to working together to achieve these goals.
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As this year’s Christians in Politics campaign declares, the big decisions in our democracy are made by those who ‘show up’. In this election year I rest assured that Christians all over our country will not only show up in the voting booth but will also continue to show up and daily build a better Britain.
The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, deputy prime minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats This is a fascinating survey, and I am struck by a number of things. First the high level of engagement of evangelical Christians with public and political life, and your hugely encouraging commitment to our democratic processes. Having a thriving democracy and fair governance is fundamental to the DNA of the Liberal Democrats, and something I personally hold dear. Second, tackling poverty and inequality shines through as a priority, echoing the commitment and work of churches and Christian organisations across the UK, working tirelessly to serve the most disadvantaged in their communities. Tackling inequality and deprivation by giving everyone the opportunity to get on in life is a central theme for my party. We believe greater investment in childcare, the work of our pupil premium, more job creation through developing the ‘green economy,’ and the continuing expansion of apprenticeships are all vital steps to addressing this. The issue of poverty is understandably rivalled by that of religious freedom. As a liberal, I am deeply committed to the belief that nobody should suffer from persecution based on any criteria – whether religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, or anything else. Religious freedoms as outlined in Article 18 of the UN Convention of Human Rights are fundamental, and must be upheld; one of many reasons it is essential the UK keeps our commitment to the Convention.
And we must not lose sight of the fact that religious freedom abroad is an issue of far greater magnitude. In too many countries Christians face very real and life-threatening persecution, simply because of their faith. This is of profound concern to my party and I. That is why I whole heartedly support the work of the new cross-party group on international freedom of religion or belief, which includes my excellent colleague and friend, Liberal Democrat president, Baroness Sal Brinton.
Nigel Farage MEP, leader of UKIP UKIP is the only major political party in Britain that cherishes the involvement of Christians in politics and believes JudeoChristians values still have an important role to play in society. I share the concern raised in this survey for the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, and a need to assist them. I believe the best way to do this is by rewarding hard work and effort and by providing a solid safety net for those who fall on hard times. This is why UKIP is making manifesto commitments to take everyone on minimum wage out of income tax altogether; end the abuse of zero-hours contracts; combat fuel poverty; and scrap the bedroom tax. UKIP believes charity should begin at home, so we will re-allocate much of the foreign aid budget to help the desperate in our own society first. However, we will not abdicate our responsibilities to funding vital overseas programmes run by reputable organisations - including Christian charities – that focus on providing emergency aid, fresh drinking water, sanitation, healthcare and vaccinations. I am determined though to stop hardearned taxpayers’ money going into pockets of despots and tyrants, some of whom may be imprisoning, torturing or slaughtering Christians in their own countries, which this survey shows is a concern to evangelicals.
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Finally, it is evident to me that UKIP is the only major political party still committed to family life and family values. We opposed same-sex marriage legislation because we felt it impinged upon the beliefs of millions of people of faith, and we will be the only party at the general election promising to extend the legal concept of ‘reasonable accommodation’ to give protection in law to those expressing a religious conscience in the workplace.
David Cameron declined to comment on the survey. The Conservative Party sent a response from Grant Shapps MP, the party chairman, instead. The Evangelical Alliance politics survey provides a useful insight into the voting intentions of its members in the May 2015 general election. With this election the most
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important in a generation, it matters greatly that everyone who is able to goes out and casts his or her vote. Conservatives and evangelicals share many common values, from the importance of family life and community to the principle of fairness and opportunity for all in the workplace. Our Christian Conservative Fellowship (CCF) has been active for 25 years, and runs a ground breaking scheme that introduces hundreds of Christians to the realm of public policy each year. Its activities are welcomed by all those who would like to see Christians playing a more active role in political life, which according to your survey is a large majority. I noted when reading the report that your members listed poverty and the levelling of inequality as their issue of highest priority. Following the worst recession in living memory, we have worked hard to tackle poverty by: cutting income tax for 25 million people, saving the typical taxpayer ÂŁ705 a
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year and taking over three million people on the lowest incomes out of income tax altogether, helping pensioners with the biggest ever cash rise in the basic state pension, and helping young people gain the skills they need to earn a living with two million apprenticeships and an equal number of new private sector jobs. At the same time, it is good news that income inequality has fallen in the UK since 2010. I was heartened to read that 94 per cent of respondents intend to vote in the election, and I will be working hard between now and then to persuade them to support the Conservatives, and our long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain.
The Green Party were unable to provide a response.
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Are you inspired? Who are the unsung heroes in your community? Now’s your chance to praise them for the inspirational work they do. We are bringing the Inspire Awards back for 2015, in partnership with CPO and supported by YFC, to showcase Christians making life better where they live because of their faith. In the run up to the awards, we’ll be sharing some of these stories in idea magazine, on the Evangelical Alliance website and across social media about people, projects and youth initiatives across the UK. We love to tell these stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things – because they inspire us. We hope they will inspire you, too. In November 2013, we awarded the winners and runners-up at the 2013 Inspire Awards in London (pictured), and now we want to hear about your unsung local heroes that make a difference to the lives they touch this year.
Individual award winner Hannah Gibbons
Your name Address and postcode:
Daytime phone number:
THE CATEGORIES
You can nominate in three categories: • An individual Christian in the UK who is an inspiring role model • A UK-based, Christian-run project serving the local area • Impacting work with children or young people in the UK Remember: we’re looking for outstanding unsung heroes rather than already recognised national ministries.
I would like to nominate Individual
Project
Children/youth initiative
The nominees contact details: Name Daytime phone number:
THE PRIZES There’ll be a trophy and prize for the winners in each section, plus an invitation to the awards event in Westminster in November for the shortlisted entries. Stories of some of the entrants will be featured in CPO’s Inspire magazine, too. The winners will be announced at the Awards in November.
How to enter Nominate your chosen person or project by completing the form on the right. Remember – we’re looking for outstanding entries that will prove an inspiration to others. The closing date is 1 September 2015. IDEA MAGAZINE / 16
Website: E-mail:
Please tell us why, in no more than 25 words, they deserve to win an Inspire Award. Please also send supporting material, where appropriate. Send your entry to 2015 Inspire Awards, CPO, Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing BN13 1BW. Closing date for entry is 1 September 2014. Alternatively, you can enter online at eauk.org/inspireawards
60 SECONDS WITH…
Pastor of politics The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin is the Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. Although she’s the 79th person to hold this role, she is both the first woman, and the first black member of clergy to be appointed. But she has no time for those who call her appointment an act of political correctness. Amaris Cole caught up with Rose to talk about her job, politics and how faith is at the very heart of parliament. The job that the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin does is a historic one. While sitting in the café below her parliamentary office in Westminster, we speak about her appointment in 2010. Critics questioned the appointment by the Speaker, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, as an act of political correctness, but Rose thinks these people are “living in a different world”. “I have very little time for those who regularly shout political correctness. They’re not living in the real world. The real world that I know is a multi-ethnic and multicultural world and I look to see all parts of society reflecting that.” Currently, that’s not the case in politics. Of the 650 members of parliament, just 142 are women, which is actually the highest number ever, but still makes up just 22 per cent of the House. In the other Chamber, there are 760 Lords eligible to sit. Only 192 are women. The number of ethnic minority MPs has increased, yet still only make four per cent of the Commons. Rose said: “Britain is a multi-ethnic society. I would like to see that reflected in all walks of life, and also reflected here in parliament.” Her “Westminster parish” evidently consists of a strange bunch of parishioners, but how do her responsibilities differ from that of a ‘normal’ vicar? “I lead the prayers in the Chamber every day when the House is sitting, as well as doing two Holy Communion services in the chapel each week.” These daily prayers ask that MPs may “keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed”. Rose also carries out baptisms and weddings in the chapel for MPs, Lords, staff and their families. Most months there are a few, which she must prepare for. But it’s not all marriage preparation and prayers, there’s also pastoral work. “People know where I am. They know my office is there and they don’t need an appointment to see me. It is like having a parish. It is a parish – my Westminster parish.” We often hear there’s a great divide between politics and faith, with the secularisation of public life. But Rose’s reception in the House is encouraging: “I know some say MPs only come to the prayers to get their seat [in the Chamber] – on a Wednesday people might come in to get their seat for Prime Minister’s Questions – but on other days of the week, when they don’t need to save any seats, people still come in. People say to me: ‘We like to have this quiet before things get rather raucous’. [The prayers] are valued.” MARCH/APRIL 2015
The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin
And is there a threat to these Christian prayers’ future? Rose doesn’t think so. “Those who are anti-faith, or anti the Christian faith, in particular, are often vociferous, asking why we have prayers, as this is a public place. Well, why not?” Parliament, and the very fabric of this place, is built on a Christian heritage, the chaplain says. “Those of us who come to it later and don’t like it because it’s not for us shouldn’t say we shouldn’t have it. I love that passage of scripture where Jesus said if the people didn’t cry out, the rocks would still sing. Well if they don’t like it, the fabric will praise God!” And you can’t separate faith from politics, anyway. “You see my take on the Christian faith is not about a holy huddle,” Rose explains, “Locked away in a building with a pointed top. It’s about a faith being lived out. If you look at the gospels – and even in the Old Testament – the focus is about people and their lives. Our Lord said: ‘I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly’. If there’s something in society that prevents people from having abundant life, then it should be challenged.” And challenge it she does. Rose is known for being straight-talking, despite living in the world of cautious politicians. “We should be looking after the widows, the orphans, the children. That’s what my gospel is about. So I don’t see faith as a separate entity to politics, for me it is intertwined.” Christians in the UK need to “get off the back seat”, she urged. Not “grumbling about what is going wrong in their community”, but actually endeavouring to put things right. “Christians shouldn’t always blame government or political parties for not doing the things they want.” Nursing the spiritual health of our politicians is only part of Rose’s life, though. She is also vicar of a church in Monument, London, and has a family. So how does she fit all this into her day? “Someone once said how do you do it all? I said: ‘I don’t think about it, because if I thought about it I would know that it’s impossible. So I just wake up and do it.’” IDEA MAGAZINE / 17
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BIG INTERVIEW
Question Time “It’s a tragedy that a teenage boy is more likely to have a mobile phone than a father at home.” Evangelical Alliance council member Fiona Bruce is the Conservative MP for Congleton. She got involved in politics after realising the world her two children were growing up in “could be so much better than this, and we have a choice: we can stand on the sidelines, or we can get involved.” She walked down the road right then and knocked on the door of the local Conservative Association. “This is the most uncertain election for over a generation. That’s the exciting – and for some of us, unnerving – part. What it does mean is that every vote counts in 2015.” There is a real sense that this election will be very different from those that have gone before, and Fiona is working hard to ensure she’s a part it. So what does this entail? “Most weekdays I arrive in the House early morning, and spend the day in a number of ways: in Committee – I’m on the International Development Select Committee, or in All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meetings – I’m chair of the all-party pro-life group in parliament and of the strengthening couple relationships all-party group, and co-chair of the APPG on North Korea, which works to expose and challenge the abuse of human rights in that country – the most persecuted on earth. During a typical day in Parliament, there may be questions to raise of a minister in the chamber of the House of Commons, or a debate to attend or prepare for. Later in the day there will be voting, and evenings are spent answering constituents’ emails in my office – I generally leave the House sometime after 11pm, hopefully for a good night’s rest.” So with all these commitments, what’s Fiona’s priority in Westminster? “Defending and fighting for the sanctity of human life,” she answered. But she does try to slow down at the weekend. “Fridays and Saturdays are IDEA MAGAZINE / 20
completely different, spent in my constituency in Cheshire, holding surgeries, listening to and tackling a wide variety of problems for constituents, and perhaps visiting a school, business and community groups. Sundays I try to spend at church and home, so my wonderfully supportive husband can remember that he has a wife!” Being a Christian in politics isn’t as hard as people imagine, she said. As a member of parliament, you’re expected to have a worldview, and the Christian worldview is clear and consistent. It’s also meant making decisions has been much easier than would otherwise have been the case, and “because at the end of the day I endeavour to ‘play to an audience of one’.” In fact, being an MP has “hugely strengthened” Fiona’s faith. Christians in parliament hold regular meetings with inspirational speakers, and services in the Commons chapel, and Fiona has a group of MP friends who are strong Christians, that she meets weekly for Bible study and prayer – “they’re my parliamentary house group.” Fiona says she’s also experienced her faith strengthening through answered prayers on issues such as the global persecution of Christians, which was little spoken of when Fiona first entered parliament in 2010, but is now frequently raised, and is high on Foreign Office ministers’ agendas. Another prayerful success was the 10-minute Rule Bill. “I recently put it forward, clarifying and confirming that abortion on the
Fiona Bruce
grounds of the gender of the unborn child is illegal, passed by 181 votes to one.” Family is clearly important to Fiona – personally and professionally – but says the state can never be a surrogate family. After the next election, she hopes to be a minister for the family in the Cabinet – “to help strengthen parenting, relationships and family life”. Fiona said: “It’s a tragedy that family breakdown costs £46 billion a year in this country – more than the defence budget – and that a teenage boy is more likely to have a mobile phone than a father at home. It’s that kind of challenge that keeps me motivated in politics.” Motivation is not something one questions in Fiona Bruce. Winner of a Business Woman of the Year Award, founder of Fiona Bruce & Co LLP in Cheshire, a community law firm employing 30 staff and 15 lawyers and patron of a school in Tanzania. She really does do it all.
BIG INTERVIEW
Politics can often be seen as impersonal; a group of largely white, ageing men with too much power, too much money, and not enough integrity. The results of the Evangelical Alliance’s Faith in politics? survey shows the majority of evangelicals don’t think our political leaders can be trusted. But is this true? Amaris Cole caught up with five busy MPs to investigate.
“I was running a church until just before I was elected, there’s not many people who do that.” Evangelical Alliance council member Gavin Shuker is the Labour MP for Luton South. He grew up in the area during the last big recession that saw one in ten local people lose their homes, and one in ten people lose their jobs. Gavin says it left him “with a sense that you can’t just leave people to sink or swim”. After university, Gavin moved to his hometown, Luton, and planted a church, reaching out to those with little or no experience of church. “We found as we went after people with this limited experience of church, all these other things open up to us, ways we could take engage. Some people got involved with a charity for those involved in prostitution, others started to think about what we would do for the environmental challenges of the town, and I joined the Labour Party.”
doing aren’t just what you want to do, but they’re the right thing to do.
It was the 2009 expenses’ scandal that made his predecessor, a labour MP, stand down. “And so the challenge was: do I believe I have something to offer? This is my first job in politics I don’t come from a political background.”
“Politics can be quite isolating, so if you can find a community that supports you, a sense in which they hold you accountable at some level and they’re there for you as well, that makes a difference. That’s the biggest thing that churches can do for those getting into politics,” he advises.
Gavin, with the support of his church, decided to take the opportunity, despite it looking unlikely he would take the seat. But in 2010 he won. There’s cross-over between his old role and being an MP, though. “Fundamentally, it’s about Luton. It’s about the people there. I feel a great compassion for the people that I serve.” So what’s it like to be Christian in politics? “I have found it amazing, but it’s not easy. Most people think you’re probably crooked on some level if you’re in politics these days. But it’s about making a difference, and I think it you’re a Christian in particular, you’ve got a few things going for you, such as a Christian community that keep you rooted.” This gives a certain amount of faith accountability, that the things he’s
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“But ultimately, you also have a knowledge that you’re loved by God, and that means it’s ok to fail – He still loves you.” That Christian community he finds in the church he led before moving into politics is a key part of his journey. “But it is hard, the reality of an MP’s life is a 70 or 80 hour week. It’s a lot of time away from your family.”
Gavin feels called to politics, and urged the Church to recognise calling to all fields. “On days that are really hard I have to remember that God has called me to this job,” he said. “Our society mistrusts politics and politicians in the same way they mistrust other institutions – look at the banking crisis. We see questions asked about institutions we used to trust – including the Church.” The key is engagement – changing it from within, as it’s not those with the least that are hurt the least, it’s those with the least that are hurt the most. “You know, when the market is given completely free reign and others step back from trying to exert their power
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there, it’s those who are the poorest in our society that are hit the hardest. Looking at the banking crisis, the richest have pulled out of this recession quite well actually – the poorest are still lagging behind.” So what’s the biggest challenge about being a politician? “I think the biggest challenge has been to remain soft-hearted in light of the fact that you have to exist in a world where you need a thick skin.” He says holding on to his compassion is key.
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BIG INTERVIEW
Question Time
“We may all be frail, but liberals tend to view the human condition as being inherently positive.” Stephen Lloyd is the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne and Willington. Growing up in Africa triggered an “interest in issues around fairness and human dignity”, but it wasn’t until an episode of Newsnight some years later that Stephen, after getting more and more exasperated, “spontaneously decided that he must either ‘put up’ or ‘shut up’!” Believing both in the importance of business and enterprise being married with a real sense of equality of opportunity and access for all, Stephen’s always been a small-L liberal. “The liberals’ philosophical concept includes a combination of both these important elements, which is why, despite the challenges in a first past the post electoral system for the third party, I decided to become really involved in politics.” Stephen sees the “very marrow” of the Lib Dems as viewing humanity as “basically optimistic and good”. He said: “We may all be frail but liberals tend to view the human condition as being inherently positive. We also, as a political creed, don’t believe there is only one way to solve a problem. It’s not a case of the public sector being 100 per cent right and the private sector 100 per cent wrong, or vice-versa. We believe the important issue is to do what actually works, rather than being dogmatically prescriptive about the ‘how’ of getting there.” In Westminster, Eastbourne and its prosperous, happy and confident long-term future is his priority. On a national level, his key drivers include apprenticeships, the dignity of work, the green economy, small businesses and equality of respect towards each other, both as individuals and nations. “I have a profoundly strong faith in God, which is central to my daily life. I don’t find this to be a problem in anyway, and in fact, see it as a tremendously valuable and important part of trying to be a decent and hard-working MP,” Stephen said. But he admitted: “The political class in the UK has lost the respect of a large section of the British public, and we have to earn it back the hard way.” He said it is up to politicians on a slow, incremental, case by case basis to turn this perception around.
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“If people voted according to policy, more would vote Green than for any other.”
“Only a new insurgent party, UKIP, can wake up the cosy cartel called Westminster.”
Caroline Lucas is the only Green MP, but she’s hoping for some “Green company” after May’s election. She represents Brighton Pavilion, and hopes that during the next parliament “collaboration won’t be a dirty word”.
Douglas Carswell is the first UKIP MP, after defecting from the Conservative party last year. He represents Clacton. Some have commented that UKIP is incompatible with Christianity, but he calls this “daft”. Douglas says the UK needs change, which won’t be achieved through the establishment parties.
Caroline’s political commitment to environmental concerns began in 1986 by reading Seeing Green by Jonathan Porritt. “His book suddenly made clear to me how all the social and environmental justice issues I cared so deeply about were underpinned by the political process. The Green Party offered a political solution,” she said, joining the day she finished the book. Her priorities in Westminster range from reform – “the system is alarmingly archaic, it’s incredibly inefficient, and there is far too much power in the hands of the whips,” – to challenging the government’s austerity programme, and of course, to action on climate change. But as the only Green MP, can she make a real change? “There have been many small, and a few bigger, victories. But on a daily basis in parliament, and perhaps this is more important, I’ve been able to be a voice that holds those parties to account – and to push them further when they need pushing.” Our survey shows many evangelicals are switching to vote Green. Why? “The Scottish referendum certainly reignited an interest in politics. There was a sense of urgency born of the fact that every vote really did matter. People had a voice, they had real power. Whatever your view on it, it was democracy in action.” Caroline thinks the Greens’ exclusion from the TV debates sparked outrage, and the “unfairness of it captured people’s imaginations”. But the increased media attention drew led far more people to find out what we stand for, she added. “There’s a widespread sense of disillusionment with the establishment parties - people are looking for a positive alternative.” “If people voted according to policy, more would vote Green than for any other,” Caroline claimed, saying the Green Party consistently tops the polls in terms of policies when people take a blind test. “And at the heart of our policies is a commitment to compassion and justice.” The Greens are enjoying a staggering surge, with membership growing at a faster rate than any other party. “It’s a hugely exciting time, and May will be very interesting…”
When Douglas left the Conservative party and resigned as MP in August 2014, he stood in a by-election, which saw him re-elected, but this time on a UKIP ticket. “I came to realise that its Westminster-wing isn’t serious about the sort of changes our country and society desperately need. Britain is run by cosy cartels, from banking and business, to energy markets and environment policy. The Conservatives have deliberately decided not to make the changes we need for a fairer, better Britain. Only a new insurgent party, UKIP, can wake up the cosy cartel called Westminster.” Douglas says his constituents are his main focus. “Every Monday morning I focus 100 per cent on dealing with casework. I’m always available for local people. Only once that is done do I think about anything else. Clacton folk are my bosses and I must never forget that.” Our survey showed a fivefold increase in the number of evangelicals intending to vote for UKIP: “Knowing that is very important to me at a personal level. There is an appetite for change - sensible, credible, respectable change,” Douglas responded. He admits that “politicians cannot be trusted”. This is not because they are necessarily bad people, he clarifies: “rather, a rotten system run by Westminster whips encourages good people to do bad things. This is why we need real reform. Voters need a power to recall MPs to face a by election just as I faced re-election in the Clacton by election. That would make MPs answer outward to voters, not inward to SW1.” And what are his hopes for the next parliament? “Reform - of politics and the economy. The unaccountable concentrations of power that prevail in this country and hold our society back, need to be broken open. Until 1968 it was illegal to put the name of a party on a ballot paper. The law expected you to vote for a person, not a party. I hope that one day we have reformed politics to the extent that it’s a choice between people again, not corporate parties.”
LEADERS’ QUESTIONS
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Is there a role for politics in the pulpit? Andrew Wilson Author and pastor of Kings Church, Eastbourne
The gospel is inescapably political - Jesus is king so yes, leaders should talk about politics sometimes, and encourage political engagement. But that doesn’t mean always talking about party politics, or candidates, or elections. Christians need to think biblically about immigration, marriage, life and poverty, so we should talk about those things where scripture does. For elections, though, running a hustings might be better than a sermon (which is what we do).
Andy Flanagan Director of Christians on the Left
Pulpits should be places where leaders call people to full participation and leadership in public life and political parties, rather than allowing them to settle for commentary and
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critique from a distance (which we tend to be better at!) Relationships need to be built. It is possible to make this call without advocating for a particular party. To exclude politics from the pulpit is to exclude large chunks of scripture. Neutrality should never mean silence.
Rev Betsy Blatchley
Vicar, St Luke’s Hackney When you work in the inner city, ministry and politics are inextricably linked. Day-to-day you see the impact of political decisions on people’s lives – in housing, healthcare, crime prevention, welfare, immigration – the list goes on. In the past week in Hackney we have been dealing with the murder of a 17-year-old with strong links to our church. When I speak of that from the front my words are necessarily political as well as theological and pastoral – there has to be a prophetic element to reflecting on why such things happen and what we can, and should, be doing about it, that will
always contain a political element. That does not mean that I think the pulpit should be used to advance a personal political agenda or partisan politics. There are times when the Church must speak out against a particular party – the rise of Nazism in Germany was such an occasion. However encouraging our congregations to engage with the political process is extremely important. Jesus was deeply political, but never aligned himself with a particular party – as a priest that is my best model.
Miranda Threfall-Holmes Author and vicar of Belmont and Pittington, Durham
Yes, I certainly do think politics has a place in the pulpit. I try not to advocate for any particular party or individuals, but we can’t help but discuss issues as we preach. After all, most contemporary examples we might use are political in some sense, and often explicitly political.
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GOOD QUESTION
by Danny Webster, advocacy programme manager at the Evangelical Alliance
Can I vote for a party when I fundamentally disagree with something they stand for? parties, and try and make a decision for which party is best. And most likely we’ll adopt a combination of these approaches. For some the decision is a historical one that they stick with through the ups and downs of that party’s fortunes, whereas many consider it afresh each time they come to vote.
“Politics is full of difficult and complex decisions, and choosing who to vote for is one of them.” It is privilege to be able to vote for a member of parliament, and the fact we get that chance isn’t something we should take lightly. We have the freedom to vote for whichever party we want to, and if we don’t like those on offer, we can stand for election ourselves. Democracy has many challenges, but this is its premise – we get to decide what happens, and in the UK the way that works is by deciding who represents us. So the fact we can vote for a party we agree with or disagree with, and get to choose, is something to be cherished. Given this opportunity, the broader question to consider is: how should we decide who to vote for? And in answering this we will take many different approaches. We might vote for the person who represents the party with the leader we most want to be Prime Minister or we might vote for a party our family has always opted for, or who we particularly identify with. We may take time to consider the specific policies and track-record of the
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You will undoubtedly disagree strongly with something every party stands for. It’s often quipped that if you were to vote for a party you completely agreed with, it would have to be your own party with you as leader, sole member and only voter. I’m not so sure about that – I don’t even agree with myself all the time. So the question to consider is not whether we vote for a party that stands for something we’d rather they didn’t, but which issues are most important for us, and which party’s policies and performance most closely aligns to that. The political parties know this: electioneering is less about persuading voters that their policies are the best and more about defining the turf the election is fought on. For this coming election, the Conservatives will want to concentrate on the economy and creation of jobs, while Labour will want the focus to be on the NHS. If they can ensure discussion revolves around issues they are confident on, they know their chances of success are higher. Our Faith in politics? research found that evangelical Christians have quite a distinct profile when it comes to the issues they consider most important. The issues of freedom of expression and religious belief, poverty alleviation, human trafficking, same-sex marriage and euthanasia are most important, while race and immigration – the top concern for the general public – ranked considerably lower. In fact, measures to reduce immigration are more likely to put off evangelical voters.
At first glance this could provide a neat crib sheet for deciding who to vote for – simply assess the parties’ positions and record on these issues and cast your vote accordingly. The problem is it doesn’t lead to an obvious answer – and that’s assuming these are the only issues integral to casting a vote; education, health and foreign affairs are all absent from this list. If you want a party opposed to same-sex marriage then you might want to vote for UKIP, but even their opposition has been rather ambivalent. All the parties have supported legislation against human trafficking, and spoken up – but not always acted – in defence of religious freedom. On poverty alleviation there’s certainly differentiation, but this issue being important leads to the next question: what should be done about poverty? And there the parties disagree, and so do the voters. Simplistic answers are a killer in politics, and likewise there’s no simple answer to this question. If you want a simple answer from a politician they’ll often give you one, but it will sweep up complexity into a sound bite designed to snag your attention and vote. There will be a story left untold, plenty of questions left unanswered. It would be just like that for Christians to take a single aspect of disagreement and make that their sole criteria for voting or not voting for a candidate. If we do that, we could end up voting for someone we agree with on one thing but not anything else. Politics is full of difficult and complex decisions, and choosing who to vote for is one of them. It is inevitable that we’ll have pretty strong disagreements with whoever we vote for, but the challenge is what we do about that. And the bits of that party you like the least? There is only one effective way to change those, and that’s to get involved with the party and make a difference.
IDEA-LIST
by Amelia Abplanalp, public policy officer at the Evangelical Alliance
5 things you can do
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today to get more involved in politics
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Online petitions are growing in popularity, and arguably in influence. Organisations such as Change.org provide a quick and easy platform for anyone to start a petition. And they really do work.
This is just one of many successful petitions. It’s not so much about the volume of signatories, but about how petitions can be used as an effective communication tool along with traditional mediums such as contacting your local MP.
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SUBMIT TO A SELECT COMMITTEE IN WRITING OR IN PERSON
Supporting a campaign is a way you can help bring practical, positive change and raise awareness to MPs. There’s lots of worthy campaigns to get involved with, and it’s up to you how much time and resources you give them – from donating a small monthly sum to volunteering your time. A few campaigns we love at the Alliance are Open Doors, which provides support and resources to persecuted churches in countries such as North Korea, the A21 Campaign, committed to ending slavery, A World at School, which is working to ensure every child receives their right to a basic education and Micah Challenge, working to reduce poverty.
START A PETITION
In 2012 Lucy Holmes started the No More Page 3 petition asking The Sun newspaper to drop page three. Her petition quickly gained thousands of supporters including the Alliance. It’s become the gateway issue for women to stand up on issues they care about and inspired Caroline Criado-Prerez to start a petition to get women on British banknotes.
JOIN A CAMPAIGN
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RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES AT YOUR CHURCH The Church has enormous capacity to effect positive change and influence our political leaders. It’s encouraging to see many churches stepping up to meet the needs of our community through initiatives such as foodbanks. If your church isn’t already doing so, you may wish to start a foodbank or encourage families to consider fostering or adopting by setting up a support group. You could raise topical issues for prayer or ask members of your church to contact their MP about an important issue, sign a petition or join you in volunteering for a campaign.
Many people are put off by this because they think it’s a long and complicated process and requires them to be an expert on the issue they care about. This is not the case. Anyone can make a submission to a select committee and MPs welcome the public’s input. You can send your submission online, in the post or even give your submission in person. All the information about how to make a submission, along with other ways you can have your say in parliament, can be found at parliament.uk/ getinvolved
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JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY Whether we like it or not, our political system is structured around political parties. The good news is most political parties allow for a lot of engagement, providing a great way to contribute positively to politics. By becoming a member of a political party you can vote to select candidates, attend party conferences and stand as a candidate. Some parties also allow members to play a more direct role in deciding party policy. Members of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and SNP can vote on motions at the annual conference that decide the party’s position on various issues. Or you may like to join the Christian branch of a political party. Conservative Christian Fellowship, Christians on the Left and the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum are well established, effective and influential branches of their respective parties. Each party website has details on how to join. Our election website has direct links to many of these parties – election2015.eauk.org/parties
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The issues that matter to you Our politics survey identified the issues most important to evangelicals. Amelia Abplanalp asked representatives from the five political parties with Westminster representation to provide their party’s position on eight of these issues.
What is your party’s position on… Poverty? Conservative Party The fastest way out of poverty is opportunities and employment. Today the UK has more people in full-time employment that at any other time. We have the fastest falling unemployment in the developed world. The welfare reforms led by Ian Duncan Smith have not been easy, but more people are in employment, more people are coming out of poverty, and the gap between the top and bottom docile has narrowed for the first time since records began. Labour Party While executive pay and bonuses continue to spiral, it’s a scandal that 950,000 people will have to use foodbanks this year. Labour will freeze energy prices, increase the minimum wage, raise the child benefit cap, repeal the “bedroom tax”, offer a million interest-free loans for home insulation, and cap rail fares. Liberal Democrat Party Tackling poverty and addressing wealth inequality is central to our philosophy. It requires an integrated approach that reduces inequalities in health, education, housing, and employment, as well as delivering a fair welfare system, and tackling global poverty primarily through development aid and addressing climate change. UKIP UKIP has numerous polices to tackle poverty from raising the personal tax allowance to ensuring no one on minimum wage pays income tax. We favour a simplified welfare system and a benefits cap that will not penalise or discourage claimants from seeking work, but provide security for those who are unemployed or disabled. Green Party We stand for social justice and would raise the minimum wage to a living wage (to reach £10 an hour by 2020), invest in affordable social housing, reverse cuts to benefits and public services, introduce a citizens’ pension, and cut public transport fares.
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Education? Conservative Party Bringing up children is the primary responsibility of the parents and a shared responsibility for teachers and local schools. For too long schools have been encouraged to be surrogate parents. We’re working to strengthen families and free up schools to reintroduce academic rigour. Labour Party Crucial for equality of opportunity. Primary school children would be guaranteed childcare from 8am to 6pm. Free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds would be increased from 15 to 25 hours/wk. Business rate relief to independent schools would be removed unless they can show a “meaningful impact” on state schools through School Partnership Standard. Committed to giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote. Liberal Democrat Party We are passionate about providing equal opportunities for everyone in education, breaking down unfair divisions between rich and poor, by investing in early years education, providing extra parental support and expanding vocational training through apprenticeships. UKIP We will introduce apprenticeships that may be taken instead of four non-core GCSEs and remove tuition fees for students taking approved degrees that fill the UK skills gap. We support the continuation of faith schools but there must be no diminution of the rigour of the National Curriculum. Religious Education must be taught in all schools reflecting the country’s religious make-up. Green Party We believe education should be freely available and inclusive for all, providing a rounded foundation for a fulfilling life. We would abolish SATs and league tables, scrap tuition fees, increase funding for universities and further education colleges, and bring academies and free schools back under local authority control.
Euthanasia/assisted suicide? Conservative Party There are no plans to introduce euthanasia or assisted suicide. David Cameron has been clear that this is something he is not in favour of, however this is an extremely sensitive issue and if it ever came before parliament it would be a free vote. Labour Party No plans to change the existing legislation. Gordon Brown famously spoke of his opposition to any change. This would be a free vote on conscience should it be brought before parliament. Liberal Democrat Party There are mixed views about this policy area and we’ll always allows our MPs a free vote. Nick Clegg recently said he was against assisted suicide. UKIP UKIP has no plans to change existing legislation on this. Green Party We believe people have a right to an assisted death, within a strong protective framework.
Human trafficking/slavery? Conservative Party We introduced the modern day slavery bill in order to properly tackle slavery and trafficking in the UK. A lot has been done but we recognise that more is needed to end this hideous scourge. Labour Party Have supported the modern slavery bill, but also campaigned tirelessly for changes to make it more effective in all circumstances. Support the crucial work of IJM, Stop The Traffik and Hope for Justice. Liberal Democrat Party We’re committed to tackling the terrible crime of human trafficking. We’ve been campaigning for new laws in the EU to crack down on traffickers, including greater EU police cooperation and tougher sentences. UKIP Human trafficking has been fuelled by the European Union’s insistence on the free movement of people between member countries. Taking back control of our borders and seeing prosecuted traffickers serve their full sentences are the first steps in tackling this detestable crime. Green Party Trafficking is a gross violation of human rights, and victims of trafficking should receive legal protection and support rather than be subjected to further victimisation, e.g. through summary deportation.
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What is your party’s position on… Better health services? Conservative Party The NHS will remain free at the point of delivery. It is one of the jewels in the crown of what makes Britain great. Since 2010 there have been 7,000 more doctors and 9,000 more nurses recruited to the NHS as well as record spending. Labour Party Labour will commit an extra £2.5bn a year over Conservative plans. Money will come from a new “mansion” tax, clamping down on tax avoidance, and a new tax on tobacco companies. Patients in England would get a GP appointment within 48 hours. Will end “creeping privatisation” of the NHS. Mental health will be a priority. Liberal Democrat Party We want to protect and improve the NHS, and are committed to improving mental health services – breaking down the stigma and reducing waiting times for appointments; investing in the prevention of disease as well as treatment; and linking increases in NHS funding to economic growth. UKIP UKIP will ensure the NHS is free at the point of delivery. We’ll ensure GP surgeries are open at least one evening a week where there is demand. We will re-establish the State Enrolled Nurse and train them on wards, not in university. Green Party We would stop further privatization of the NHS and ensure proper funding, make sure NHS staff receive fair pay for their vital work, and improve public health and wellbeing.
Religious liberty? Conservative Party British people are free to believe what they want and to hold to their views because this is a Christian country. All faiths and none have liberty because of the values of tolerance and respect that come from Christian values. Labour Party Supports religious liberty and freedom of worship as laid out in Article 18 of the UN Convention. Will appoint new envoy for religious freedom. Government should be doing more to hear the concerns and expertise of British church leaders on this issue at home and abroad. Liberal Democrat Party A fair and free society is one where its citizens are treated equally. We therefore stand against religious prejudice and advocate for rights to religious freedom to be upheld, as outlined in Article 18 of the UN Convention on Human Rights. UKIP We’re committed to protecting religious liberty and freedom of worship. We recognise and promote an overarching, unifying British culture, rooted in JudaeoChristian values, which is open and inclusive to everyone, regardless of their religious background. Green Party Everyone has the right to follow and practise the religion of their choice without facing discrimination. Equality and antidiscrimination laws should apply to all organisations, including religious ones.
Economic growth? Conservative Party The UK has the fastest growing economy in the G7. The long-term economic plan of reducing our inherited debt and balancing our books is well underway. However there is still more to do to ensure that we have sound finances and aren’t spending what we don’t have. Labour Party No additional borrowing for new spending. Reintroduce 50p top rate of income tax for earnings over £150k. Cut income tax for 24 million people by bringing back the 10p rate. A tax on bankers’ bonuses. Guarantee a job for adults unemployed for more than two years. Create a million new green jobs by 2025. Ban zero-hour contracts. Liberal Democrat Party Our economic plan is to build prosperity that’s accessible for everyone, pursuing an economic recovery that’s strong, open, fair, green and sustainable, and investing more in manufacturing, building projects and innovation to ensure future growth in the UK. UKIP UKIP would lead Britain out of the EU, which would save billions; reoccupy our vacant World Trade Organisation seat; and use the money we save to support our own people, our own business, and our own economy. Green Party We oppose austerity and would invest in a fairer and greener economy, creating a million jobs and training places in areas including renewable energy, public transport, insulation, social housing and waste management.
Same-sex marriage? Conservative Party We don’t have a policy on this. The same sex marriage bill was a free vote and two thirds of the Conservative MPs voted against it. Labour Party No official party position and MPs were given a free vote in parliament. In a recent interview with Premier Radio, Ed Miliband underlined that a Labour government will not pass legislation forcing churches to conduct same-sex marriages Liberal Democrat Party As part of our commitment to living in a free and equal society, many Liberal Democrats (but not all) are in favour of same-sex marriage. However we’ve always stressed that religious groups won’t be forced to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies. UKIP UKIP opposed same-sex marriage legislation because we felt it impinged upon the beliefs of millions of people of faith. We consider the current law to be significantly flawed. We believe it should have been subject to a full review of the role of the state in marriage. Green Party We strongly support marriage equality.
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The party representatives were: Colin Bloom, Conservative Christian Fellowship of the Conservative Party. Andy Flannagan, Christians on the Left of the Labour Party. Claire Mathys, Liberal Democrat Christian Forum of the Liberal Democrat Party. Suzanne Evans, Deputy Chairman of UKIP Green Party policy unit. Their full responses, and similar information from the regional parties, can be found on the Evangelical Alliance’s general election website: election2015@eauk.org IDEA MAGAZINE / 27
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Switching voters At the next election, 39 per cent of evangelicals say they will not be voting for the party they chose in 2010. Amaris Cole asks idea readers why. I voted Lib Dem in 2010. I was charmed by the possibility tha t we could have some fresh peo ple in power. I was even naiv e enough to think a coalition wo uld mean we’d all pull togeth er and get some good dialogue going on in the Cabinet. I’m not switching just as a reactio n to the current government, but that comes into it. I’m also just getting more left wing as I get older and see more cut s to the community projects I am involved with. I’m voting Gre en in 2015. I live in Durham so it’s more of a protest vote rea lly. Well, that and I just did an isidewith.com quiz. Miriam Skinner
nstituency with a ervative. I live in a co In 2010 I voted Cons town the Lib jority. However in my large Conservative ma the town council. I d have a majority on Dems are popular an ar. I have become ye s ean election thi rop Eu the in IP UK voted mised changes Conservatives who pro disillusioned with the re many U-turns gration and also the over Europe and immi introduction of o unhappy with their als I’m . ies lic po er over oth cided as a big issue ver I am not totally de we Ho . ge rria ma y ga ally against this and d the sitting MP is tot in my area is HS2 an need to study more st gay marriage. Will she also voted again e deciding. es’ manifestoes befor deeply the other parti Stephen Dix
In 2010 I voted Lib Dems because they seemed to be the alternative big pa only rty that spoke hone stly and simply ab changes they want out the ed to make. I didn ’t go to university, feel that it should but I be free for all, not for those to can aff get a loan and pa ord to y it back. The fact that they not only on the policy, but U-turned wacked up the pr ice to £9,000 mak not want to trust es me anything they ever say again. I will be Green if they stand voting in my area Worsle y and Eccles South, because they stand for what I believe in. Among lots of policies, they are fo great r protecting the NH S, scrapping HS2, justice for Palestin a fair e and will campaign to the keep the UK the EU. in Sam Pratt
before now, although once Mainly I’ve voted Liberal Democrat has done locally has for Conservative. For me, what an MP party’s views on social r thei as nt been important, as importa now as the previously sitting justice. I didn’t vote Labour before anything constructive in MP of my constituency didn’t offer ly saying what a terrible job debates, but concentrated on simp ur’s track record when in Labo g. the neighbouring MP was doin ce that they would be true power didn’t give me any confiden it-card’ of promises that to their socialist routes, and their ‘cred ’t help. I appreciate didn ed they rather spectacularly abandon their ideals and ise prom com to that the Lib Dems have had s, and that they ative serv Con the with ition policies while in coal ies of the polic ng t-wi have tempered some of the more righ solid and ly ious prev ain latter, but they have abandoned cert without and kly quic too , fees on resolute policies, such as tuiti ent. Nick rnm ring into gove much justification, even before ente e riag mar x e-se the sam Clegg’s attitude to Christians during n, coffi the in nail the debates was very insulting and was he and the Lib Dems leaving me with no confidence that ality. I’m in a quandary equ and ce justi al would fight for soci . Frankly I would vote who to vote for at the next election ght that would achieve Monster Raving Loony Party if I thou that MP’s are likely know and something! But I am realistic and that either Labour to come from one of the five parties, er, whether with the help or the Conservatives will be in pow ge has to come from chan of another party or not. Therefore nce the Conservatives bala in and s, Labour or the Conservative Labour might be my only use of welfare leads me to think that give me much hope of the option, one that obviously doesn’t changes I would like to see. Andrew Avramenko
At heart I am Co nservative. How ever, I also belie important to as ve it’s sess each party’s performance an key issues at the d promises on time of each elec tion. This time ar I can’t in good co ound, I feel nscience cast a vote ‘for’ the Co Europe and the nservatives – response to the rise of UKIP bein I am not ‘diseng g key for me. aged’. I value my democratic right want to be coun s, and do not ted among the many who alread at the polls. This y fail to show time around ther efore, unless a ta my constituenc ctical vote in y could help keep any extreme or candidates out, fringe party I’ll be spoiling m y ballot paper. Becky Jones
in the 2010 general When I voted for a Tory government – and in many ways antielection, little did I expect a secular e then it seems that all of Sinc Christian – coalition government. of their way to alienate out e gon have the main political parties in the way of choice. Yet the Christian voter, allowing us little teous government. Only our Christian duty is to vote for righ en of the need to uphold spok one party leader has consistently Christian values – Nigel our and tage our Judaeo-Christian heri election I will be voting Farage. That’s why in the next general UKIP. John O’Conner
You can read more about switching voters on eauk.org/idea/switching and add your own reasons for who you will be voting for. Or you can follow the conversation on Twitter, by sending a tweet to @idea_mag with the hashtag #ShowUp IDEA MAGAZINE / 28
POLITICS
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CULTURE
Steve Couch is a writer with Damaris, which provides free resources for Damaris Film Clubs
What can we learn from The West Wing? A poll of American voters before the 2000 Presidential election showed that a majority of respondents would prefer The West Wing’s President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) to either of the candidates on the real-life ballot papers. Despite its success when it aired between 1999-2006, The West Wing’s portrayal of its fictional politicians continues to be an exception to the rule. Bartlet and his senior staff are committed, motivated and full of integrity, prompting one critic to ask: “What rock did these morally pure creatures crawl out from under? How do you go from innocent millipede to White House staffer, without becoming soiled or disillusioned by the dirty realities of politics along the way?” West Wing cast – credit: François Pichard
“Villainy often makes for better drama, so it’s understandable when film makers align their politicos to the dark side. Understandable, but not necessarily good.”
Generally speaking, film and television rarely entertain the idea of politicians as committed public servants. Birgitte Nyborg from Danish series Borgen (2010-present) is another exception, but mostly fictional politicians are either shallow, self-serving fools like Veep’s Selina Meyer (2012-present) or Machiavellian monsters like House of Cards’ Frank Underwood (2013-present). The cynicism that was ground-breaking in Yes Minister (1980-1988) has become the norm in shows like The Thick of It (20052012) and the Kelsey Grammar vehicle Boss (2011-2012), along with films like The Ghost (2010) and The Ides of March (2011). Villainy often makes for better drama, so it’s understandable when filmmakers align their politicos to the dark side. Understandable, but not necessarily good. With public confidence in politicians at an all-time low, it’s debatable whether the cynical depiction of politicians reflects public opinion or shapes it. Since Spitting Image burst onto our screens in 1984, criticism of our leaders has become increasingly belligerent and disdainful. Not that politicians should be beyond criticism; political satire has a long and important history, and Spitting Image, like its modern successors, played a vital role in speaking truth to power and calling politicians to account. But increasingly there’s a danger that genuine debate can get lost in personal abuse, and the pursuit of the punchline. Arguably, the constant belittling of politicians feeds the general perception that the great and the good have given way to the greedy and the mean. The truth is, perhaps, more like The West Wing than we sometimes admit. Alongside the self-serving and the immoral, there are also genuine public servants. Many of them – in all the main political parties – are
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strongly motivated by their Christian faith, which long predates their political positions. One recent government minister was a leader on CYFA Ventures in the 1980s – I know, because he was my dorm leader – and there are countless other politicians across the political spectrum who combine a calling to politics with a calling to follow Jesus, see christiansinparliament.org.uk for more examples. Rather than seeing politics as a distraction from God, they recognise it as a vital part of serving him. Of course, Christians from different parties have very different ideas about how God’s values should be put into practice, but by wrestling with those questions, they are fulfilling Jesus’ command for us to be salt and light in an otherwise dark and corrupt world. They may disagree about the way forward, but they all agree on the importance of having people of faith speaking up in the corridors of power. What about the rest of us? Cynicism is easy, and sometimes fun – I enjoy Have I Got News For You as much as the next person, but that can’t be our whole response. Jon Kuhrt, who runs the Resistance and Renewal blog, argues that “the Bible is hugely political – in that it is about how God wants people to behave and act towards him, and towards each other. This involves economics and law, because these are tools that need to be used to build justice.” If Christians opt out of the political process, we are leaving these tools in the hands of people with no concern for God’s values. Would your preferred party be better or worse for having more Christian voices shaping policy and campaigning, nationally and locally? Why shouldn’t you be one of those voices? Ken Leech, the vicar who founded homeless charity Centrepoint, observed that all Christians are political even – especially – when they think they aren’t. When we choose not to involve ourselves, we’re voting for the way things already are. Even if the role of activist isn’t for you, we still need to read and think about the issues, to discuss and participate in the political process. The alternative is to leave the world of politics a little darker and a little less salty.
Steve Couch is a writer with Damaris, which provides free resources for Damaris Film Clubs as well as the Damaris Film Blog. See damaris.org/filmclubs and damaris.org/ filmblog.
CHARTS
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LETTERS: HAVE YOUR SAY
In your words
We love hearing from you, so have your say on any of the issues raised in idea or make any comments about the Evangelical Alliance by emailing idea@eauk.org WHICH LENS? Thanks for your timely investigation into evangelical identity in the Jan/Feb issue. Nowhere did that question come more sharply into focus than in Leaders’ Questions (p32) on what the word ‘evangelical’ means. Whilst Revd Rachel Marszalek reads scripture “through the lenses of reason, tradition and experience”, Dr Lucy Peppiatt perceives scripture as “the primary authoritative lens through which and against which all other texts, ideas, cultures etc are interpreted and measured”. So which lens are we to use? Is scripture to be viewed through the filter of our world or our world to be viewed through scripture? Is the word of God to be subject to the changing culture of the world or the world subject to the enduring word of God? Our evangelical forbears allowed the word of God to reign supreme in their lives, even when it cost them dear. May God enable us, together, to do the same! Yours sincerely, Michael Thornton. via email THE CRUSADE LEGACY Sunil Raheja asks among other questions with reference to Billy Graham crusade: “What happened to the country in the next few decades? Many turning away from the Lord in so many parts of British Society?” Yes, we should ask such questions as to why the falling away took place especially as it costs so much money and was supported by Church Leaders and other dignities and churches. Think of the difference between the Methodist Revival in the 18th century and the Billy Graham crusade in the 20th. While after the Wesley’s died problems arose because some Methodists among the faithful caused a separation from the Church of England, but Methodism has stood the
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test of time, and is an important part of the Christian Church. Jesus said to his disciples: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, he may give it you.” Mrs E Stuart via email IDENTITY I was very interested in your Jan/Feb issue devoted to identity. However, I feel there is something more to be said, particularly as it affects Christians and non-Christians alike. What used to define was nationality, racial origins, gender, and career. Considering the latter you were an accountant, bus driver, teacher or lawyer. This gave people a clear sense of where they were in the world as they kept these identities for life. It is said that the average graduate will change jobs some 11 times during his or her working life and their entire skills base three time over. Thus, identity is a much more fluid thing than it was, and a source of anxiety than it was in a world where boundaries were more fixed. This can be described as ‘status anxiety’ or the ‘subjective turn’ or ‘identity crisis’. This can lead to a lack of confidence in who we are and our identity can be compromised. Rightly Christians should recall that we are citizens in two realms, first and foremost we are citizens in Christ’s realm where our prime loyalty should lie and secondly we are citizens here on earth. But there is another point to be made and that is that teaching should remember this social fluidity and this should be reflected in the Church’s programmes. John Redfurn via letter
heard in tweets Jubilee Centre @JubileeCentre Proud to feature in @idea_mag beside the excellent @RaviZacharias & @debrajgreen . #Votewise2015 essential reading. Debra Green OBE @debrajgreen Thanks @ idea_mag for publishing a review of my book ROC Your World; changing communities for good @weareROC Marika Rose @MarikaRose I wrote a short piece for @idea_mag on what it means to “love your neighbour” in a digital age: eauk. co/1zE97aS Above Bar Church @abovebar We love being affiliated to @EAUKnews and @theFIEC Why not give them a follow? Amelia Abplanalp @AmeliaAbplanalp Let’s get on the political pitch. Check out the #showup video by @EAUKnews @CiPolitics & others & get inspired! bit.ly/showupvid
Editor Amaris Cole – idea@eauk.org Consulting editors Steve Morris, Krish Kandiah Contributing writers Amelia Abplanalp, Daniel Webster, David Smyth, Kieran Turner, Lucy Olofinjana, Matthew Rees, Steve Couch Advertising manager Candy O’Donovan c.odonovan@eauk.org Design & Print Cliffe Enterprise Director of media & communications Chine Mbubaegbu
idea is published bi-monthly and sent free of charge to members of the Evangelical Alliance. Formed in 1846, the Alliance’s mission is to unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly as good news for spiritual and social transformation. There are around two million evangelical Christians in the UK, according to a 2007 Tearfund survey. idea is published in accordance with the Alliance’s Basis of Faith, although it is impossible in every article to articulate each detail and nuance of belief held by Alliance members. Articles in idea may therefore express views on which there is a divergence of opinion or understanding among evangelicals. Letters and story ideas from members are welcome, and will be considered by the editorial board, which reserves the right to edit letters and stories for length and style. We regret that we are unable to engage in personal correspondence. Unsolicited material will only be returned if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. idea accepts advertisements and inserts to offset printing costs. Advertising in idea does not imply editorial endorsement. The Alliance reserves the right to accept or refuse advertisements at its discretion. Articles may be reproduced only with permission from the editor.
REVIEWS
THE WISDOM HOUSE
21ST CENTURY EVANGELICALS
THE PLAUSIBILITY PROBLEM
by Rob Parsons (Hodder and Stoughton)
Instant Apostle
by Ed Shaw (IVP)
“Come on in, take a seat – tell me what’s been going on…” he begins. There aren’t many books that truly alter the way you look at your life, but this honest series of lessons, told through letters to the author’s new grandchild, did just that. Buying a first house. Getting married. Starting a family. Rob has been through it all, and passes on the lessons he has learnt. The book is an imagination of the things he would tell his grandchildren as they reach these milestones and the conversations they would have. This deeply personal book proves you don’t always have to learn the hard way.
MARCH/APRIL 2015
What does it mean to be an evangelical today? How do we define what evangelicals believe, and what implications does this have for the Church’s mission today? This ground-breaking book explores. The authors’ claim it’s the most relevant look at the state of evangelicalism in the UK, drawing together the results of Evangelical Alliance research on a wide range of subjects, including belief and identity, church life, social action, gender, international relations and the charismatic movement. The leading academics offer helpful reflections on the findings and examine how the data can be used to shape the direction of the Church today. A great tool for church leaders, mission practitioners and students.
Recommended by Steve Clifford, this book is an honest look at the pain of dealing with same-sex attraction, while recognising the fulfilment that living an obedient life brings. Bringing his own experiences of these issues, Ed Shaw explores what the Bible says and what the Church teaches. He shows that the Bible’s teaching appears unreasonable to many because of the missteps taken by the Church in the understanding of Christian life. A valued insight into the world of those with same-sex attraction, showing where we so often get it wrong.
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LAST WORD
Steve Clifford the general director, writes…
How can we contextualise without compromising? It’s a couple of years ago now, but I remember the scene well. It’s during the Christmas break, and Ann and I are having a lazy morning. I’m lying in bed reading my Bible, and I found myself in an honest moment with God, as I tell Him there are some bits of the Bible that I find really hard to take. I should explain: two years ago we were right in the middle of the redefinition of marriage debate. The issue of human sexuality was a focus of so many interviews, conversations and articles. As I lay in bed I was remembering a conversation with a dear friend who had shared with us the fact that he lived with same-sex attraction, but had now decided he wished to explore an intimate relationship. It had been a tough conversation as we were friends, and still are. I was grateful he felt able to trust us with his story, his struggles and indeed, the conclusion he had come to. But my love for my friend, my reading of scripture, and my understanding of how the Church had interpreted the scripture for more than 2,000 years, meant I couldn’t just celebrate with him, and say: “It’s OK, it doesn’t matter” or, “I’m sure God wouldn’t mind”. I really wish I could have celebrated with our friend. I wish the Bible was less clear – at least from my reading of it – on some of these issues. It would have been so much simpler if the Bible’s views of marriage was not exclusively heterosexual. But as I lay in bed that morning, it wasn’t just the issues of human sexuality – some of those Old Testament stories of God at work, His holiness and His judgements can be hard to take. There are bits of the Bible, both Old and New Testament, which
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cut across my sensitivities, brought up in a western European education system and bombarded by a secular humanist agenda. I’m attracted to God so supremely revealed in Jesus, God who the apostle John sums up with three words: “God is love”. But it seems there is more to God than my 21st Century preferences. There is more than the parts of the Bible that I chose to underline, or the stories I regularly read and preach from. As I lay there thinking, I was overcome with a deep sense of my own arrogance. I realised I was in danger of wanting to put God into a neat box and wanting to make him acceptable to my sensitivities. Maybe my God of love was more of a Hollywood God than Yahweh, the God revealed in scripture. I was in danger of reading the Bible and wanting to create God in my own image. It was a profound moment. I found myself asking for forgiveness and thanking God for the Bible, in which and through which, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, He has chosen to reveal Himself in all His magnificent fullness. I have reflected on that morning over the last couple of years, and have realised how every generation of Christians have faced the challenge of how to contextualise the gospel to its own generation. What stories, metaphors, images and historic truths will best connect and make accessible this wonderfully loving, sovereign and
eternal God. The challenge however, for each of us, is how to contextualise without compromising or sanitising the God of scripture, and indeed, the God revealed in Jesus. At a recent board meeting, the Rev John Glass, our new chair of the Evangelical Alliance Council, brought to us a challenge, as to how we come to know the will of God. He reminded us of Romans chapter 12, where the apostle Paul makes clear to his readers that the will of God is to be found. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.” How easy it is, with so many strong messages bombarding us day in and day out, to find ourselves “conforming”. The dominant world views that occupy our daily diet of TV, social media, film and newspaper are so persuasive it makes me want to “conform”. My prayer is that I will see things more clearly and that there will be a transformation of my mind, so I will better know His will and understand His ways. You can order copies of our helpful resource Biblical and Pastoral Responses to Homosexuality on our website eauk.org/church/resources
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