Christians called to challenge political candidates on funding

Ade Omooba is urging Christians to engage with their local parliamentary candidates on issues of funding for Christian initiatives.

The co-founder of Christian Concern For Our Nation said that legislation designed to restrict Christians in providing services with a Christian ethos would not promote cohesion but rather tension.

He said Christians needed to ask candidates standing in the general election, expected to be held on May 6, what they would do to ensure Christians would not be hindered in their provision of welfare services.

“We do not want public policy to infringe or limit the scope of work that we do as Christians. We don’t want to be told to leave our faith at the door when we want to access funding. That doesn’t help our situation at all,” he said.

“The uniqueness of our provision is our faith. It’s not just a belief for us. It’s a lifestyle. The service is available to anyone who want to benefit from it but what is important is that those who deliver it are those who subscribe to the ethos.”

Mr Omooba said it was important that Christians participate in the democratic process by attending surgeries and hustings and bringing their concerns to candidates.

He said: “We need to be bringing them forward to these parliamentary candidates: what are you going to do to help us continue to serve these people who are in great need of help and support without the provision being threatened by public policy and legislation?"

He added: “Your vote is your right, it is your influence, it is your authority and you must use it well,” he said. Take the opportunity to be informed so that you engage with clarity conviction and courage.”

His call follows Communities Secretary John Denham’s admission earlier in the month that some local governments had shown “reluctance” in commissioning services from faith-based groups and that faith groups had been disadvantaged when it came to accessing funding.

"Government and faith don't always speak the same language but we should be working from a state of mutual understanding not misconceptions,” he told faith leaders at the launch of a new £1 million Government fund to help faith groups get their voices heard by Government and local authorities and strengthen them in their provision of social services.

The Government recently published new “myth-busting” guidelines, ‘Ensuring a level playing field’, for local governments working with faith groups.