GENERAL ELECTION

A statment from the Methodist Church’s partner organisation, the Joint Public Issues Team

Called to love, pray and vote.

We believe that Christians have an important role to play in elections: to love, to pray, and to vote. As we follow Jesus’s commandment to love our neighbours, we must take part, debate with kindness, ask questions, demand honest answers and be offended when truth is not offered. We are called too to listen to those on the margins, seek good news for the poor, and stand up for those who are vulnerable – whether that is families who are struggling today, or future generations who do not have a vote but will be affected by our choices. In this election, parties and candidates will have their own carefully selected messages to give to the electorate, which may not include the issues that we most care about. How can the scandal of foodbanks be ended? How can we avert climate catastrophe? How can we ensure refugees are treated fairly and humanely? You will have others. In playing our part in this General Election, we have the opportunity to raise these questions above the fog, and hold candidates accountable to providing solutions which work for the good of all. We pray that this briefing is helpful as you reflect, discern and participate.

The Joint Public Issues Team