Although I encourage my congregation to exercise their right to vote in good Christian conscience, I do refrain from bringing politics into the pulpit. I would hate to alienate anyone from the gospel over something so trivial as my political views. I make no exception in this article; my favoured choice remains a secret between me and the ballot paper! So the piece below is written as a mere commentary from a position of neutrality.
It is fair to say that many in our country have suffered in recent years. We have endured five Prime Ministers under the last Conservative government, as the party struggled to navigate the nation through Brexit, the pandemic, the passing of our late Monarch and a return to trench warfare on our continent in Ukraine. The popular axiom 'Christ is King' has got me through the electoral fatigue.
On 4 July 2024, the people of Great Britain went to the polls and cast their vote for change. Labour won an impressive majority with 411 seats in Parliament promising 'stability and moderation.' But I fear that this election outcome is unlikely to change much in Wales. Labour has won every Assembly and Senedd election since 1999, and the constituency where I serve as Pastor, Torfaen, is a Labour stronghold.
In the post-industrial Welsh valleys, we have some of the worst statistics in Europe for social deprivation, despite extensive intervention from successive governments (Red or Blue). What I have seen from my own experience is that real change can not come from a political solution however well-intentioned. Real change can only come about through the gospel.
Is purity back in fashion?
Each summer, I have the opportunity to serve the next generation of leaders, missionaries and committed church members at youth …