Temple Address Response

The Alliance responds to Trevor Phillips' speech at the sixth Temple Address

17 November 2006

The Evangelical Alliance was pleased to have Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, as the speaker at the sixth annual Temple Address.

Mr Phillips is to be the chair of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights, which will take over the work of the UK’s three existing equality commissions next year. It was especially appropriate that Mr Phillips should give this year’s Temple Address, linking respect to the theme of diversity, given the current challenges to community life in Britain.

The aim of the Temple Address, which last year was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Right Rev Dr Rowan Williams, is to highlight Christian values to leaders from all areas of public life. Having previously addressed hope and trust, the Evangelical Alliance is currently focusing on the value of respect. Mr Philips was speaking to an invited audience of 140 people including MPs, a range of faith leaders and others of influence across society.

The Alliance would echo Mr Phillips’ assertion that the human race faces the two great challenges of climate change and the growing number of human conflicts driven by human difference – or as he put it: “How do we live with our planet and how do we live with each other?” We are thrilled that in addressing the challenge of diversity he said: “I want to argue that people of faith can and should be central to our efforts to make our diversity a benefit rather than a burden”.

Mr Phillips’ conviction was that, in building a respectful and cohesive society, faith does have a critical role. He rebutted the views of secularists who reject the place of faith in the public square and argued that: “Some of the privileges held by faith-based institutions can still be justified – because they fulfil a purpose for the whole community, way beyond the boundaries of their own congregations”.

It was particularly significant to have Trevor Phillips endorsing Faith Schools, opposing the idea that they promote disharmony and quoting research that shows that they are often the most integrated schools. He was also clear that: “Whatever else faith schools may or may not be doing, they are not the principal cause of ethnic polarisation in Great Britain.”

Mr Phillips also referred to the recent court case involving the BNP leader, Nick Griffin. Like Trevor Phillips, the Evangelical Alliance detests and resists racism and finds the BNP deplorable and decidedly unchristian.

Trevor Phillips’ call, as a politician, for churches to deny communion and fellowship to those who support the BNP does not however, necessarily reflect the view of the Alliance. Whilst the subject of communion will be understood differently across the Christian family, we are clear that racism, either in word or in action, is incompatible with the concept of Christian fellowship.

The Church has rightly always been involved in responding to racism and now, more than ever clearly needs to be taking a lead, but the Alliance recognises that there is always more that could be done.

The Alliance also believes, however, that rather than take a ‘hell and damnation’ approach, critical engagement may lead to a change of view and redemption is possible, even for members of the BNP.