01 February 2010
The Archbishops’ Council Mission and Public Affairs Division has updated its guidance note on countering far right political parties, extremist groups and racist politics. The guidance note, first produced in 2007, was prepared in response to a number of requests for advice on relating to political parties and other extremist groups that promote divisive, intolerant or racist politics.
The revised note draws on the experience of churches in areas where support for these groups has been strong enough to elect councillors and other representatives, as well as those places where the church has joined broad based campaigns to resist extremist parties.
The Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, Director of Mission and Public Affairs, said: “The note is advisory and seeks to enable church leaders to discern an appropriate course of action within areas where community relations are often fragile or fragmented. Our faith calls us to develop and sustain the hope and vision that things can be different.”