A Seventh-day Adventist church leader says other denominations should be congratulated for refusing to sponsor political parties or candidates in the upcoming Australian federal election.

“The issue is not about separating Christianity from public life, or about discouraging people with moral values from having their influence in government, but of keeping the church separate from party politics,” said Ray Coombe, director of public affairs and religious liberty for the church in the South Pacific.

Coombe said church members need to be aware of current social issues and elect representatives who will preserve the values and morals of society: “But it’s certainly not a biblical teaching that the church should become involved in party politicking.”

The Adventist Church released a statement on church-state relations in 2001. The statement, available online at www.adventist.org.au, encourages Adventists to serve as civil leaders, but warns them not to use influence to advance their faith or inhibit the faith of others. It also encourages its members to take civic responsibilities seriously, to vote and to share the responsibility of building community.