--- title: Good government date: 2021-04-07T11:33:00+01:00 author: Tim Coysh canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/good-government" section: Pages --- The relationship between people and the Government is vital to the health and strength of a society. Each are dependent on the other, and each need checks and balances to prevent the other from overreach or abuse. At the Evangelical Alliance we believe political authority is created by God and is therefore good. But people do misuse power and so checks on power are essential. As Christians, we have a responsibility to advocate for good systems which respect human dignity and promote human flourishing. Democracy initially grew out of Christian principles, and we view it as a good gift that should be valued and used wisely. Christians should act as salt and light as witnesses to Jesus as we seek to see God’s ​‘kingdom come now’, while we wait for Jesus to return and restore all things. As we work to encourage good government, we want to see systems that are just, fair and transparent. We engage with government on conversations about electoral reform and democracy, House of Lords reform and how the justice system operates. We also continually invite our members to contact their MPs, engage with government consultations and participate in elections, using their voice to seek change that is informed by their Christian faith. It is important to have views not only on the outcomes but on the mechanics of how our government operates. *“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” – Romans 13:1* [ ![Westminster round-up: Making sense of it all](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Big Ben London](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/iStock-540595948.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/westminster-round-up-making-sense-of-it-all) [#### Westminster round-up: Making sense of it all ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/westminster-round-up-making-sense-of-it-all) As Parliament breaks for the summer, Alicia Edmund, head of policy, recaps on key policy developments and signals what this means going forward [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 21 July 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/westminster-round-up-making-sense-of-it-all) [ ![Police have new powers to arrest, but will this lead to law and order in society?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Police man at Harry and Meghan's wedding](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/king-s-church-international-3mjspmQDM_M-unsplash_2021-02-24-152204.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/police-have-new-powers-to-arrest-but-will-this-lead-to-law-and-order-in-society) [#### Police have new powers to arrest, but will this lead to law and order in society? ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/police-have-new-powers-to-arrest-but-will-this-lead-to-law-and-order-in-society) All you need to know about the new Public Order Act 2023 [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 10 May 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/police-have-new-powers-to-arrest-but-will-this-lead-to-law-and-order-in-society) [ ![Political stalemate in Northern Ireland must end in 2023](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![I Stock 504484615](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/iStock-504484615.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/political-stalemate-in-northern-ireland-must-end-in-2023) [#### Political stalemate in Northern Ireland must end in 2023 ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/political-stalemate-in-northern-ireland-must-end-in-2023) We take a look back on a difficult year in Northern Ireland and share the team’s priorities for 2023 [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 21 December 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/political-stalemate-in-northern-ireland-must-end-in-2023) [ ![Westminster: our work is not done – what does this mean for 2023?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Houses of Parliament](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Houses-of-Parliament.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/westminster-our-work-is-not-done) [#### Westminster: our work is not done – what does this mean for 2023? ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/westminster-our-work-is-not-done) 2022 has been a year of unprecedented change in government and a lot is still up in the air as we look to the coming year [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 20 December 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/westminster-our-work-is-not-done) [ ![Eight changes you should know about from the Autumn Statement](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Pexels pixabay 258117](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/idea/pexels-pixabay-258117.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/eight-changes-you-should-know-about-from-the-autumn-statement) [#### Eight changes you should know about from the Autumn Statement ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/eight-changes-you-should-know-about-from-the-autumn-statement) Was it good news for those most in need during the cost of living crisis – and how are our members responding? [ ![Nicola Martin](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/nicola-martin) [ Nicola Martin ](/author/nicola-martin) 18 November 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/eight-changes-you-should-know-about-from-the-autumn-statement) [ ![What do Rishi's policy promises mean for the UK?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Official portrait of Rishi Sunak crop 1](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Official_portrait_of_Rishi_Sunak_crop_1.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/rishi-sunak-promises-to-deliver-the-2019-manifesto) [#### What do Rishi's policy promises mean for the UK? ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/rishi-sunak-promises-to-deliver-the-2019-manifesto) Reflecting on some of the PM's policies which aim to deliver his party's 2019 manifesto [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 26 October 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/rishi-sunak-promises-to-deliver-the-2019-manifesto) [ ![How can Christians respond to political chaos?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![I Stock 920372204](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/iStock-920372204.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/how-can-christians-respond-to-political-chaos) [#### How can Christians respond to political chaos? ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/how-can-christians-respond-to-political-chaos) What does peace look like amid the current political rollercoaster of events? [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 21 October 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/how-can-christians-respond-to-political-chaos) [ ![Countdown to the Northern Ireland assembly elections](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Parliament Buildings Stormont](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Parliament_Buildings_Stormont_2022-04-26-112033_xjmh.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/countdown-to-the-northern-ireland-assembly-elections) [#### Countdown to the Northern Ireland assembly elections ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/countdown-to-the-northern-ireland-assembly-elections) What are the issues in Northern Ireland and how can Christians make their voices heard ahead of the election? [ ![Danielle McElhinney](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danielle-mcelhinney) [ Danielle McElhinney ](/author/danielle-mcelhinney) 26 April 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/countdown-to-the-northern-ireland-assembly-elections) [ ![Remembering God’s grace while we wait for the verdict](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Tingey injury law firm y Cd PU73k G Sc unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/tingey-injury-law-firm-yCdPU73kGSc-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/remembering-gods-grace-while-we-wait-for-the-verdict) [#### Remembering God’s grace while we wait for the verdict ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/remembering-gods-grace-while-we-wait-for-the-verdict) Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and perfect justice [ ![Jo Evans](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/jo-evans) [ Jo Evans ](/author/jo-evans) 19 January 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/remembering-gods-grace-while-we-wait-for-the-verdict) [ ![Garden parties and rules that apply to other people](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Ben rosett n Yugm V SY6s unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/ben-rosett-nYugmV-SY6s-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/garden-parties-and-rules-that-apply-to-other-people) [#### Garden parties and rules that apply to other people ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/garden-parties-and-rules-that-apply-to-other-people) Why we need to pay attention to how our leaders act as well as their policies [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 11 January 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/garden-parties-and-rules-that-apply-to-other-people) [ ![Scandal and sickness](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Fairy lights](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/natalie-parham-r0PG5h_-AYI-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scandal-and-sickness) [#### Scandal and sickness ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scandal-and-sickness) Where do we turn when the world feels dark? How can we find reasons for joy, whatever our circumstances this Christmas? [ ![Jo Evans](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/jo-evans) [ Jo Evans ](/author/jo-evans) 15 December 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scandal-and-sickness) [ ![Violence against women and girls: A cry for hope](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Lamp post](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/liviu-florescu-OfkVLqlDkNE-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/violence-against-women-and-girls-a-cry-for-hope) [#### Violence against women and girls: A cry for hope ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/violence-against-women-and-girls-a-cry-for-hope) We see throughout scripture God's good promises for women and girls in a world of flimsy suggestions, and this I hope will inspire hope and action [ ![Jo Evans](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/jo-evans) [ Jo Evans ](/author/jo-evans) 11 October 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/violence-against-women-and-girls-a-cry-for-hope) 1 [2](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/good-government/page/2 "Go to page 2") [ ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/good-government/page/2 "Next page")