Politics and Elections
One of JPIT’s six hopes is for ‘A politics characterised by listening, kindness and truthfulness’. We believe that Christianity has a lot to say about politics and how we should do politics. Jesus taught about the issues and everyday choices facing ordinary people and those in power, and wasn’t afraid to confront unjust power structures that were harming the very people they were supposed to nurture and protect.
We cannot ignore the challenges facing society today, and we need to engage fully with democratic processes and decision-making. By participating in elections and political life, Christians can make a positive impact on the political landscape.
Here are some of the resources we have produced in the last few years to enable churches and individuals to explore politics.
Meet your MP
Meet Your MP is an initiative to build links between congregations and their MPs.
Find out more and get involved
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (2022)
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill was enacted by Parliament in 2022. The Bill was the subject of controversy, especially around proposed limitations on protests – but what is actually included in this wide-ranging piece of legislation? And what do Christians have to offer into the debate?
Brexit and Beyond
In January 2019, The Methodist Council spent some time looking at the challenges of Brexit and Beyond, using a paper written by our team leader Rachel Lampard.
You can find Rachel’s paper here.
Churches were invited to use it to start a conversation.
Art of the Possible
Does politics have a role in the Church or is it a distraction from our mission? Is politics about compromise – what is possible – when our Christian faith is about truth?
At a time when a lot of people say they are turned off by politics, many in our churches are still concerned about what is going on in our world. What does politics mean for our faith – and what should our faith mean for our politics?
The Art of the Possible is a resource produced to help people to explore these questions.
It was initially released in 2013, but was updated and renewed in 2017:
Download the Art of the Possible
Take a look at our Art of the Possible Youth Resource here too:
Download the Art of the Possible Youth Resource
Elections
The Joint Public Issues Team produces resources to equip and inform Christians ahead of local and national elections.
Party Conferences
For several years, Church leaders from the United Reformed Church, Baptist Union and the Methodist Church visited the major political parties’ conferences. The purpose was to show a Christian presence in politics and to build relationships with politicians from all parties.
Read our Party Conference blogs
Countering Political Extremism
Christians, along with people from other faith communities and beyond, have been very concerned by the growing presence of extremist parties in local elections and their threat to community cohesion. Churches of many denominations have stated that racism, in all its forms, is a sin, and a denial of God’s love for each of God’s children.
Prayers, theological reflections and housegroup materials
What to do if you are represented by extremist councillors
A briefing on The Methodist Church and the United Kingdom Independence Party