On Saturday, Diocesan Synod met at St John's House, Bury. In his opening address, Bishop David reflects on the General Election, outlines five key values that Greater Manchester faith leaders share, and asks Synod to hold those standing for election before God in prayer.
The election address is shared in full:
"I did briefly, as a young man, wonder about whether I should get into politics. It didn’t last long. I fast became convinced that the best way I could show love of my neighbours was through committing myself to the life and discipline of a priest, making Jesus the explicit centre of my my words and deeds, in a way that no politician could do. Yet I’ve always respected those who have the calling and the resilience to be politicians. There may be some rogues among them, I guess there are some rogues among all professions, even clergy, even bishops maybe, but the vast majority of those we elect to office go in with honourable motives. They want to make their town, city, country, or even European Community, a better place. They tend to care about the same issues, even if they have different solutions and answers to the problems life throws up. By the time I was at Theological College, I knew that I had more in common with those who cared about our common life, from all main parties, than I did with colleagues who thought such matters unimportant. Nowadays, I have the fortune to sit in Parliament myself, and to witness at first hand the integrity of my fellow parliamentarians of diverse political persuasions.
"So as we enter the second half of the current General Election campaign, I want to ask every member of this Synod to hold those standing for election, especially in the constituency where you live and where your church lies, before God in prayer. For them, this is an utterly demanding and exhausting time. They and their supporters can face abuse and threats. They can find themselves having to tow a party line on some subject where their own personal views may differ. They may have to pretend to be electable even when they know that the count is very unlikely to go in their favour. We may smile at the gaffes and mishaps they make, God knows, in a long campaign we need things to make us smile, we’re allowed to enjoy an interviewer pinning a candidate down on some tricky issue. But let us never disrespect those women and men who genuinely believe that they can serve our nation in Parliament.
"As in previous elections, the faith leaders of Greater Manchester (and apologies to Synod members from outside GM) are issuing a short statement to members of all our world faiths. As in previous elections it does not attempt to tell congregations which candidate or party to vote for, nor does it get into the detail of party manifestos, rather it highlights five key principles that our faith communities share, principles which I do believe our main political parties aspire to, even if some policy proposals may seem to me to go about them in mystifying ways:
• Promotion of Peace and Reconciliation
• Upholding The Sanctity of Life
• Respect for The Dignity of Every Human Being
• Eradication of Poverty
• Care For Our Common Home - this Planet.
"It is each voter’s responsibility to evaluate which candidate and which party will best embody those values in its programmes for government.
"Alongside these values, we are proud of the diverse community that the Manchester region is. For centuries our willingness to welcome and work alongside people of backgrounds very different from our own has been a vital factor in the economic growth and prosperity of this part of our nation, as well as in its cultural, commercial, community and spiritual life. Hence, we urge our fellow citizens to vote for people who will promote positive relationships and cohesion between all communities, and who oppose anything that causes racial or religious hatred or prejudice on grounds of race, nationality, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age or religion. Sadly, we do have to draw particular attention to the dangers presented by Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the current international climate. (As a brief digression, at Fr Omid’s request, I have recorded a video of some prayers for Israel and Palestine which we will be putting out once we have got it subtitled in a couple of the other languages used for Anglican worship in our diocese.)
"Clergy, and bishops, like everyone else in our congregations, have the right both to hold and to express strong political opinions - with the formal exception of membership or support of a couple of named racist bodies. Political statements, and political activities by clergy are exempt from the Clergy Disciplinary Measure - something I’ve been grateful for myself. Indeed, the ties between Church and State, long established in our unwritten Constitution, enshrine the links between the temporal and spiritual, as do the prayers with which each House of Parliament begins its day’s work, and which at local authority level are embodied in the role of mayor’s chaplain. From the last 20 years or so clergy have been eligible to stand for Parliament, and I’ve known many clergy serve on local councils representing diverse parties. It is, of course, a very different matter, if church magazines, newsletters or social media accounts are used to promote or denigrate particular parties or candidates. The proper role for churches is to convene hustings meetings and invite candidates to address, and take questions from, members of the public. Helping our parishioners and congregations engage effectively with the democratic process is as much a practical expression of the love of neighbour that Jesus places in our hearts as is running a food bank or debt advice service. The rules for faith bodies hosting meetings are readily available on the internet.
"Finally, spare a thought for those who will be deeply affected by the election result but have no vote themselves. Many members of our church family do not yet have full citizenship rights, including those who came here as refugees. Let’s listen to their voices and concerns. And let’s also think of our children and young people, whose health, education, good housing and safety should rank high among our concerns. I personally think that the case for lowering the voting age to 16 is compelling, given that otherwise a young person might not get to vote in a parliamentary election until they are 23.
"Technically, bishops are the only members of the House of Lords entitled to vote for an MP. By convention we refrain. It doesn’t seem right for me to seek to elect someone to represent my voice in Parliament when I am there, with my own voice and vote, already. But do, in praying for the coming parliament, pray for me, that I may honourably discharge the responsibilities that fall to me, and which I will reaffirm on 9th July when I answer the King’s summons, take my oath, and resume my seat."