The United Reformed Church is contacting its congregations in the run-up to the general election to remind them that voting for racist political parties has no place among Christians.

The United Reformed Church is urging them to act in accordance with a resolution passed in 2004 declaring support for extremist parties to be "incompatible with Christian discipleship".

The URC said that "support of parties that discriminate on racial grounds has no place amongst Christians" and that voting was a civic and moral duty.

John Marsh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, said: "As the election approaches I urge all Christians to consider carefully where they place their cross on the ballot paper.

"Let us focus clearly on the truth that we are all members of one race - the human race.

"Within God's Kingdom there is no place for racial hatred and I call upon us all to remain firm in our commitment to practise and promote racial justice and inclusion."

The URC's guidelines advise churches against allowing an extremist party to participate in election hustings meetings held on church premises.

The Church of England made the same recommendation in its revised guidelines issued earlier in the week.

It warned churches that giving extremist parties a platform on their premises could imply support. Churches were also advised against meeting extremist groups to avoid giving them credibility and publicity.


On the web:
www.urc.org.uk/what_we_do/rjmm/docs/Political%20Extremism
www.ctbi.org.uk/
www.cofe.anglican.org/info/socialpublic/urbanaffairs/crp