The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Britain and Ireland, Pastor Don McFarlane, has called on David Cameron, leader of the nation’s Conservative Party, to help ensure greater freedom for Christians to express themselves publicly and speak in harmony with their values and convictions.

The call came in a letter to Cameron following an Oct. 19 meeting between Cameron and two parliamentary colleagues and leaders from several churches, including McFarlane.

McFarlane stated that his major concern, along with that of most church leaders at the meeting, was the erosion of Christian freedom in a Christian country.  The church leaders felt that political leaders take great care in ensuring that the views of minority groups are protected, but those same protections are being denied to Christians.  Same sex relationships were seen as a case in point.  Those in the society who support same sex relationships appear to be given free rein in expressing their views while those who take the opposite view seem to have lost the right to express those views publicly.

“It appears that in their effort to be tolerant of minorities, our political leaders are prepared to ostracize the majority and those who hold to traditional Christian values,” McFarlane wrote to Cameron following the meeting. “Many Christians feel that the freedom to express themselves on important issues is being gradually eroded. Christians are by nature law-abiding people and our political leaders need to ensure that they are not forced to become lawbreakers by standing up for their Christian convictions in a Christian country.”

The meeting was seen as an opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition to discuss Conservative Party policies with certain church leaders. Cameron shared with the group three key points that would be central to his government should he become Prime Minister. 

First was the vital contribution of faith groups, faith schools and faith-based charities to the society.  He promised a fairer deal for such organizations.  Then he spoke about the crucial role of the family in building society and maintaining values.  Lastly he identified personal and social responsibility as being fundamental to the positive development of society, emphasizing that government is limited in what it can do to solve certain problems in the society. Cameron stressed that society desperately needs the church if it is to head in the right direction. 

No date has yet been established for new Parliamentary elections. In Britain, the leader of the party that holds a majority in Parliament becomes the Prime Minister.

There are more than 26,500 Seventh-day Adventist church members in Britain, who worship in over 300 congregations.