Churches Organise Ecumenical Vigil for Racial Justice Prior to Election

On the 5th May the UK’s General Election will take place. While the political parties are making their last efforts to conclude their election campaigns, the churches and faith-groups are also taking this opportunity to express a Christian viewpoint on certain social issues.

The Churches' Commission for Racial Justice, part of the official national ecumenical body, the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), encourages candlelit vigils throughout the UK to show support for ethnic minorities during the final days of the General Election.

Vigil 2005 aims to encourage a high voter turnout on 5th May; affirm the contribution of black and ethnic minorities to the UK and to uphold the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on Refugees.

Churches' Commission for Racial Justice secretary Rev Arlington Trotman said, "The vigils are signals of solidarity with migrants and people seeking asylum who have been demonised by sections of our society. These acts of Christian responsibility should remind everyone inclined to treat immigrants with disrespect, whether settled or seeking asylum, that Britain benefits economically, politically, spiritually and culturally from their presence."

Dr Alison Elliot, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland commented, "Scots have been welcomed throughout the world for centuries. We know that welcoming the stranger is a vital characteristic of a decent society and affirm our right and commitment to doing so."