Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham urges Christians to vote responsibly and selflessly

Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham urges Christians to vote responsibly and selflessly

The new Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, issued a message to Christians across the diocese today, encouraging them to take the opportunity to vote and to do so carefully with others in mind – especially the most vulnerable.

The full text of his message is below and also on the diocesan website: www.southwell.anglican.org

General Election message from the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham

Be a fool - and vote!

I still recall the first time I went to vote. I was excited that I could be involved and play my part in electing a new Member of Parliament. Actually it still excites me, because so many in history, and even today, have never had such an opportunity or privilege. There is a danger we lose sight of this, or become weary wondering if it really matters or makes a difference.

So I am writing to you all to encourage you and everyone in God’s church to place their cross on the voting papers when the General Election comes. It is a privilege and a responsibility, one we should exercise and not ignore. But where should the cross be placed?

Ted Heath, once Prime Minister, wrote that whilst it was not the role of Christian leaders to recommend support for one political party or another, it was their role to enunciate the principles on which political decisions were to be taken.

So what principles are we looking for as we place the cross on the voting paper?

First to listen to others, to find out what the issues are, and to listen to God as we worship in these coming days.

Secondly to be bothered to vote, make voting a prayer time, placing the cross with prayer, faith and care.

Thirdly, to place the cross selflessly considering others and the dignity of all human beings first, especially the poorest and most vulnerable in society and in the world. We should not vote on the basis simply of self- interest.

Fourthly to place the cross dedicating ourselves to be more active in serving our fellow human beings, and thanking God for all he gives us to share, with loving responsibility for our planet, God’s good creation, and for one another.

The over riding principle is that we place our cross on the voting paper in the same Spirit that Jesus carried and placed his cross deep in the earth, listening to his Father, in prayer, selflessly for those who were poor, and commending himself and those around to God.

This means that, whilst we vote in partnership with people of all faiths or none, certain parties or individuals cannot be voted for. Parties who adopt policies that are racist, that divide people against each other, and do not take into account the poorest in society cannot be supported by Christians.

Of course, all of us are sinners, so sin infects every political party, everyone standing and everyone voting in the election. Different Christians will have different opinions and take a different view on some issues, which is why a Christian party will never be all embracing.

But all of us are called as Christians to join in the debates taking place now on the nature of our society and what really matters. All Christians are called to vote. If standing up for that can be seen as foolish by some today, we know that through Christians standing for election (and do pray especially for them) and through Christians voting and living out faith in society then the power of God will be seen moving in our nation.

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1.18).

Let us pray together….

Lord of all,
rich and poor, young and old, the helpless and the helper,
we pray for those who are standing for election
and for all who will be voting in these challenging times.
Give them wisdom, insight and moral courage to act as you desire.
Guide their decisions, Lord, whether or not they acknowledge your guiding hand upon them.
As we receive news of policies made, actions taken,
may your eyes be ours as we read the press,
may your ears be ours as we hear the news,
may your reactions be ours as we process our thoughts.
Thank you Lord that we do have a role in decision making, when we bring our intercessions to you, whose government is perfect and without end.

(Adapted from a Mother’s Union Prayer)

Further Action

I recommend the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland web site (www.ctbi.org.uk), and in particular the article by Bishop Laurie Green, Bishop of Bradwell, “General Election 2010 - a Theology” and the short paper “Planning a Hustings Meeting.”

+Paul

ends