An Alternative Declaration of Christian Conscience

Categories: election-2010

Date: 09 April 2010 16:59:05

Westminster 2010 describes itself in the following way: "Westminster 2010 is a declaration aimed to appeal to UK Christians of all denominations who subscribe to the historic Christian faith and who hold orthodox Christian beliefs about life, marriage and conscience. It was initially inspired by the 'Manhattan Declaration', which was launched in November 2009 and has now been signed by over 400,000 US Christians. Westminster 2010, however, is a completely independent initiative by UK Christians focused on UK issues. We are launching it in the lead up to the general election (expected on 6 May 2010) with individual Christians being invited to sign. We call upon all parliamentary candidates to pledge that they will ‘respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and express Christian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience’."

Having read the declaration I cannot sign it. It does not represent my understanding of Christian faith, and I guess from some FB comments I've seen floating about those of others. I have done a bit of hacking about with it though and amended it into an "Alternative Declaration of Christian Conscience".

Our beliefs and values

As Christians we reaffirm historic belief in God the Father (who created us and gave us the blueprint for our lives together); in God the Son Jesus Christ our Saviour (accepting his incarnation, teaching, claims, miracles, death, resurrection and return); and in God the Holy Spirit (who lives within us, guides us and gives us strength). We commit ourselves to worship, honour and obey God. (same as Westminster declaration, minus the words "in judgement" after return).

As UK citizens we affirm our Christian commitment both to exercise social responsibility in working for the common good and also to be subject to all governing authorities and obey them except when they require us to act unjustly. (Westminster declaration remains unchanged).

Human life

We believe that being made in the image of God, all human life has intrinsic and equal dignity and worth and that it is the duty of the state to protect the vulnerable. We will support, protect, and be advocates for such people – including children born and unborn, and all those who are sick, disabled, addicted, elderly, in single parent families, poor, exploited, trafficked, appropriately seeking asylum, threatened by environmental change, or exploited by unjust trade, aid or debt policies. We pledge to work to protect the life of human beings from conception to natural end. We will support those who take the same stand.

(removes the following wording from the Westminster declaration: "and we refuse to comply with any directive that compels us to participate in or facilitate abortion, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any other act that involves intentionally taking innocent human life" also the word "every has been removed from before "human being" and this has been put into the plural).

Marriage

We pledge to support marriage and all similar faithful, monogomous, committed relationships which we believe are the only context for sexual intercourse. We believe that this type of strucutre where children receive support from two loving parents, who are committed to each other, is the most important unit for sustaining the health, education, and welfare of all. We call on government to honour, promote and protect marriage and all other forms of monogomous, faithful, committed partnership. We commit ourselves to continue affirming what we believe as Christians about sexual morality, marriage, and the family.

(Signinficantly amended from Westminster Declaration wording which says: We pledge to support marriage – the lifelong covenantal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife. We believe it is divinely ordained, the only context for sexual intercourse, and the most important unit for sustaining the health, education, and welfare of all. We call on government to honour, promote and protect marriage and we refuse to submit to any edict forcing us to equate any other form of sexual partnership with marriage. We commit ourselves to continue affirming what we believe as Christians about sexual morality, marriage, and the family).

Conscience

We count it a special privilege to live in a democratic society where all citizens have the right to participate in the political process. We pledge to do what we can to ensure our laws are just and fair, particularly in protecting vulnerable people. We will seek to ensure that religious liberty and freedom of conscience are unequivocally protected against interference by the state and other threats, not only to individuals but also to institutions including families, charities, schools and religious communities. We will not be intimidated by any cultural or political power into silence or acquiescence and we will reject measures that seek to over-rule our Christian consciences or to restrict our freedoms to express Christian beliefs, or to worship and obey God. (Wording unchanged from Westminster Declaration)

Commitment

We call upon all those in UK positions of leadership, responsibility and influence to pledge to respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold these beliefs and to act according to Christian conscience. (Westminster Declaration)