How can the church make a difference during elections?

Lyndon Bowring, Executive Chairman of CARE, comments on the causes close to the heart of the Christian community

It was May 1979 and as Associate Pastor, I was leading Kensington Temple’s Wednesday evening Youth Bible Study. As we finished, I suggested we should pray about the general election that was taking place the next day. Margaret Thatcher was standing against the Labour PM, James Callaghan.

I joined a group that included 15-yearold Sally. She cut straight to the chase! “Dear God, please bless the new prime minister, ‘whoever’ she will be!” How the Lord received this request is far from me to judge, but suffice it to say that Mrs T was indeed elected to become Europe’s firstever female prime minister, going on to serve three consecutive terms.

Fast forward to 2024 when a record 50 elections are taking place internationally, including in our country. There’s not too much enthusiasm for politics here after recent years of navigating Covid, various politicians being disgraced, the cost-ofliving crisis, massive problems in the NHS, serious conflicts across the world and having three PMs in two-and-a-half-years. But with only half the world’s population governed by a democracy of some sort we are very fortunate to live in one of the strongest – not something to take for granted. At the time of writing we don’t know when our general election will be, but CARE has worked on a dedicated website providing unique information and other resources to assist Christians, ready to launch the moment we know the date.

How can the Christian church make a difference? I suggest four ways, and there’ll be others too.

1. Churches can host hustings and their congregations can support these events.
2. We can study the manifestos and make choices about the political parties and local candidates according to where they stand on what really matters to us. CARE’s analysis of policies and promises will be really helpful here, saving you time and trouble!
3. Individuals, groups and congregations can pray. Why not use CARE’s 40-day Election Prayer Diary?
4. We can be in touch with our newly elected MP afterwards, inviting them to visit our churches and assuring them of our prayers.

The next few years will bring to the fore some important issues about which CARE is very concerned, including: Physician- Assisted Dying, legislation on ‘Conversion Therapy’, what our children are taught about relationships, sexuality and gender identity, the responsibility of betting companies towards problem gamblers, online safety, freedom to speak out about what we believe...

We trust in a God who is sovereign in his judgments, ready to hear and respond as we call upon his mercy and grace over this election time. Sally must be 60 now, I wonder if she’s still praying about our next prime minister!

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

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