Projects: Freedoms We Treasure

Freedoms We Treasure

A Day Conference Examining Religious Freedom in Contemporary British Society, 20th May 2003

There is ongoing concern among thinking Christians about the many ways in which our traditional and hard-won freedom to proclaim the Good News about Christ, and to run Christian work according scriptural principles are being threatened. So a meeting of our Advisory Panel in 2002 proposed that we should hold a day consultation - subsequently entitled "The Freedoms we Treasure" - at which we would seek to examine how real such threats are and what form they take. On May 20th 2003 some 70 people met at St Peter's Vere Street, the home of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC), to hear speakers from Care, Youth for Christ, LICC, Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship and the Evangelical Alliance, together with barrister Paul Diamond and Sir Brian Mawhinney MP, address this subject and help us understand the real issues at stake.

Sir Brian Mawhinney made an impassioned appeal for Christians to wake up to the threats to their cherished Christian freedoms. He appealed to those present to begin to defend the rights of Christians to worship and witness without restriction. He defended the historic rights of the Christian community to practice their religion and to proclaim it freely without fear or hindrance. He added:

We still live under this umbrella that this is a Christian country. We have got to stop assuming that everyone agrees with us and start realising that other people's freedom of speech is starting to unpick what we believe.

Feedback from focus groups all over the country revealed an increasing intolerance to Christianity as a religion and to different forms of Christian mission. Nick Spencer, from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity, informed the meeting that his research indicated an outright hostility to the Christian faith and practice in some contexts.

Legislation coming through Parliament could have a major effect on the ability of Christian organisations to employ only those of the same faith group. Martyn Eden, Political Researcher at the Evangelical Alliance, revealed a number of areas in which Christian freedom could be impaired.

In a masterly review of over 20 court proceedings from the European Court of Human Rights and from British Courts, Paul Diamond focussed on several areas of concern. He made the group aware that the greatest threat was not the shape of new legislation, but how existing legislation is sometimes being interpreted in a way damaging to Christian witness and mission. It was notable that while the very active homosexual lobby was well-funded, there was usually a shortage of resources to fight cases on behalf of Christians.

Case studies from Christian leaders involved in social work, university Christian unions and schools witness revealed matters of deep concern to those who would wish to further Christian evangelism and mission in contemporary society. Rev. Dr. Rob Frost, who chaired the day, said:

This conference highlights the fact that we are seeing an erosion of Christian freedom. I am really concerned that many Christians don't even seem aware that it's happening, or willing to begin to take a stand. These freedoms we treasure may not be here for ever... we are encouraging church leaders to monitor what's happening.

Feedback from participants indicated that they gained a considerable amount of knowledge and insight as a result of the day. Discussion is continuing on how to build on this beginning in the areas of information, prayer and action.