[The following address to our people on their responsibilities in connection with the forthcoming General Election was drawn up by the Religion and Morals Committee and approved by the Synod.]
Since the present Parliament is drawing near the end of its lifetime, the responsibility of voting in a General Election will soon devolve upon our people in the United Kingdom. It is of course no part of our Church’s function to engage in political debates. However, it is part of our duty as a Church and as individuals to do what we can to see that the nation in which we have our lot in the Divine Providence, is ruled and regulated by the Word of God. The nation that will not serve God will perish and for this reason, if we love our nation, we will wish that it should serve God.
In our system the laws by which we are governed are principally determined by Parliament although responsibility for administration of these laws is laid upon Judges, Sheriffs, magistrates, the police and others. It follows that much depends on the character of the persons elected to Parliament. In these circumstances we would like to draw the attention of our people to the need to take care for this matter when they are electing their M.P. The choice of candidates in any particular constituency is limited but even although none of the candidates may come up to what we would desire in the way of religion we would ask our people to enquire from their candidates where they stand in regard to the issue of religion and morality, making clear when they do enquire that they are interested to promote the cause of true religion and morality in the land. Although this may not alter the views of the candidate in question it may well give them some impression of the strength of religious conviction in their constituency and at least in this way help to advance religion and morality in our society, and prevent the cause of true religion being lost sight of, by our failure to display our banner.
Above all we would entreat our people to pray earnestly in connection with the forthcoming election that we as a nation would be given legislators who would discharge their functions in the fear of God. We may be ready to think this is a hopeless prayer, but this is to give way to unbelief. With God nothing is impossible: Ask and it shall be given you.