Church must contribute to restoring the UK, Christians challenge Prime Minister

The Church must be involved in restoring our country’s values – that was the message from the Evangelical Alliance to Gordon Brown in a letter and prayer handed to Downing Street this morning (May 30).

30 May 2009

The Church must be involved in restoring our country's values - that was the message from the Evangelical Alliance to Gordon Brown in a letter and prayer handed to Downing Street this morning (May 30).

As Britain reels from crises of financial and political integrity, the Alliance's new General Director Steve Clifford has challenged the Prime Minister to invite the Church, with its expertise on values and community involvement, to practically contribute to the policy dialogue on the solutions.

Clifford reminded the Prime Minister of his speech on the eve of the G20, when he said religious leaders need to provide a "shared moral sense" to help in the crisis.

"You invited us then to build a new world together, and we agree with you that we need to believe in something greater than ourselves to do this," said Clifford.

"We want to thank you for providing the space for our voice on the G20, and also to remind you that this voice can provide moral and practical solutions to the problems we are facing together as a country now."

He asked the Government to deepen the limited contributions faith leaders were able to offer during the G20.

"In many areas of policy, it is critical that the voice of people involved on the ground - very often as part of churches - is heard by politicians. We are asking for a proper dialogue, rather than token gestures, so that churches can play a substantive role in determining policy."

Clifford said churches across the country are responding actively in their communities to help those struggling with debt, and that the Evangelical Alliance's Life Beyond Debt campaign is looking at the contribution Christian values and practical help can make to the economic future.

Clifford was joined in Downing Street by Jonathan Oloyede, from Global Day of Prayer, and Andy Frost, Director of Pentecost Festival. The presentation was just one of a number of Evangelical Alliance events at the Pentecost Festival, which is led by churches and Christian faith-based organisations in London.

Clifford, who joined the Evangelical Alliance in April, will be formally commissioned at an outside celebration on Westminster Abbey lawn, followed by prayer walk through central London, focusing on local, national and international politics.

The Evangelical Alliance is also running a debt seminar, exploring how churches can help their members and communities spiritually and practically through debt. Finally, it is hosting the Don't Be a Stranger photographic exhibition, which focuses on migration, at the Odeon West End cinema in Leicester Square.