Call to PM to work with church on financial crisis and political integrity

The church must be involved in restoring our country’s values – that was the message from the Evangelical Alliance to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a letter and prayer handed to Downing Street on Saturday morning.

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," he said.

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.

The prayer for Brown which accompanied Clifford’s letter asked God to keep the Prime Minister’s eyes focused and clear and to give him wisdom and sensitivity in the face of the current insecurity and uncertainty.

Clifford was joined in Downing Street by Pastor Jonathan Oloyede, from Global Day of Prayer, and Andy Frost, Director of Pentecost Festival.

Pastor Oloyede said: "We might not agree with everything leaders do but we have a responsibility to pray for whoever is in that position. The church needs to keep praying to help our leaders be good leaders."

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.

"This weekend the church in hundreds of different locations and nations is celebrating the birth of the church and we are grateful that God birthed his church 2000 years ago on the streets of Jerusalem. The church is alive and kicking today and we are grateful to be part of that church worldwide," said Clifford.

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

Chair of the Evangelical Alliance Council, Roger Forster, prayed that Clifford would lead in humility and wisdom.

"Be blessed and be a blessing to the Evangelical Alliance," he told Clifford.

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