Christian Concern

Christian Concern is the trading name of CCFON Ltd,[1] a not for profit advocacy group.[2] It has been described as "one of the most prominent evangelical organisations in the United Kingdom", reaching a mailing list of more than 43,000 people.[3][4] Christian Concern seeks to alter law and influence the media and government,[5] and is linked to the Christian Legal Centre organisation.[6]

Christian Concern
Formation2004 (as part of Lawyers' Christian Fellowship)
TypeConservative Evangelical advocacy group
Headquarters70 Wimpole Street, London
Region
United Kingdom
Chief Executive
Andrea Minichiello Williams
Websitewww.christianconcern.com
Formerly called
Christian Concern For Our Nation

History

The organisation was co-founded[7] by the barrister and evangelical activist Andrea Minichiello Williams;[8][9] Before 2008, it functioned as a network run from the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF) Public Policy Unit, which was then headed by Williams.[10] An internet domain was registered to the organisation using the name Christian Concern For Our Nation (CCFON).[11] In 2006, CCFON described itself as "an activity of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship Public Policy Unit", functioning as a "service for non-lawyers who want to be equipped to understand, act and respond to the increasing number of legal issues impacting the Gospel and Biblical justice at the heart of our society". CCFON described itself as "[consisting] of a website and e-mail update service supported by an active team of lawyers".[12]

The organisation separated from the LCF in June 2008, with Williams stating that this was to avoid jeopardising the charitable status of the LCF,[11] as political activity from a charity, when it's a stated purpose of that charity, is illegal under UK law.[13] CCFON Ltd was incorporated as an independent body on 24 June 2008.[14] In October 2010, CCFON Ltd shortened its operating name to Christian Concern.[15]

Williams is currently CEO of Christian Concern and also acts as the founder and operating director of Christian Legal Centre, a sister organisation that describes itself as serving to "defend Christians in the public sphere and to protect the freedom of Christians to live their lives in accordance with their Christian beliefs".[16] Sam Solomon acts as a consultant for Christian Concern, advising on Islamic affairs.[17] Solomon wrote A Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding[18] for UKIP MEP Gerard Batten, who wrote the foreword to the charter. A link to the charter has featured on the website since at least 2009.[19]

The organisation is currently based in the City of Westminster.

Ideology and issues

The organisation is known for its views on and opposition to trends of liberalisation within Christianity in the United Kingdom, and trends of liberalisation within wider society. It views society as having "largely turned [its] back on Jesus", leading to the growth of ideas such as "secular liberal humanism, moral relativism and sexual licence", which has led to "widespread family breakdown, immorality and social disintegration". The organisation views the "fruit" of ideas that are alternative to Christianity as "rotten", and seeks to combat them through engaging politically with a broad range of issues, including (but not limited to) abortion, adoption and fostering, Islam, marriage and issues relating to sexual orientation.[20]

The organisation also takes opposition to liberalising trends in specific denominations, such as the Church of England; in 2014, the Church of England responded to a government survey on civil partnerships in support, with Christian Concern's Andrea Williams opposed to the church's decision.[21] In 2018, Christian Concern criticised the Anglican church for supporting civil partnerships; arguing against civil unions, Christian Concern stated that "Legal recognition of same-sex relationships should not have been given in the first place and should not be allowed for priests in any case. The government should not listen to the alarmed voice of the [Church of England] in this case."[22] When it was revealed that the Church of England appointed Nicholas Chamberlain as the Bishop of Grantham, knowing that he was in a same sex relationship, Christian Concern stated that it opposed the appointment.[23] Christian Concern also opposed the church's decision to affirm transgender members.[24]

Notable campaigns

In 2005 and early 2006, the group campaigned, alongside other Christian organisations, to stop the passing of the Religious Hatred Bill. The Bill was later passed with amendments in the House of Lords.[25]

In 2006 and 2007, the organisation opposed segments of the Equality Act Sexual Orientation Regulations, organising a rally outside Parliament[26] and a petition which gained over 10,000 signatures, on the grounds that they claimed the new law would "discriminate heavily" against Christians.[27] From Autumn 2007, they campaigned against some clauses in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, organising a demonstration outside Parliament in January 2008.[28] Both Bills subsequently passed reading in the House of Commons without amendment.

In 2007, the organisation supported Lydia Playfoot, a schoolgirl who had been instructed to remove a sexual abstinence ring in school because it contravened her school's uniform policy. Miss Playfoot took her case to the High Court of Justice, alleging that her human rights had been violated under the European Convention on Human Rights. The High Court found against her, awarding her school £12,000 costs.[29] Also in 2007, the organisation supported foster parents who had refused to sign a new contract drawn up to implement the Sexual Orientation Regulations.[30]

The organisation launched its 'Not Ashamed' campaign in December 2010, aimed at encouraging Christians to live out their faith in public, drawing attention to instances where Christians believed themselves to have been marginalised at work or in public life. The campaign was backed by George Carey, and secured wide media coverage on its official launch in December 2010. Another Christian think tank, Ekklesia, said that there was "no evidence" of systematic discrimination as the organisation claimed.[31]

In 2021, Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre supported Seyi Omooba in her legal case against the Curve Theatre in Leicester and her former agency (Global Artists), where she alleged religious discrimination, harassment and breach of contract.[32] The case was dismissed. Briefly, Omooba accepted the part of Celie in the Curve’s production of The Colour Purple, a part that includes portrayal of a lesbian relationship in the original book and dramatisations of it. Problems arose when homophobic posts by Omooba from 2014 threatened boycott of the production. Many inconsistencies in Omooba’s case[33] include that she was unaware that the directors expected Celie to be played as a lesbian, despite that being a central element of the narrative and that Omooba had appeared in the 2017 Cadogan Hall British Theatre Academy production of The Colour Purple[34] (not as Celie, but as Nettie - a part for which she received high praise). Further to this, she had read the script before accepting the part. In February 2021, when the case was dismissed, with costs awarded to the Curve Theatre, Seyi Omooba was said to be considering an appeal against the judgement.[35]

2008 Channel 4 documentary

The Channel 4 Dispatches documentary "In God's Name", which first aired on 19 May 2008, examined the growing influence of Christian evangelical movements in the UK. Investigative journalist David Modell followed head of Christian Concern, Williams, who, at the time, was public policy director of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship.[36] The documentary featured Williams and documented her lobbying the British Government on issues such as abortion, gay rights and the enforcing of laws relating to blasphemy. The programme included footage of Williams' meetings with Conservative politicians Norman Tebbit and Nadine Dorries, both of whom have worked with the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship to influence policy on matters where they had a common agenda. When director David Modell asked Williams if she believes Islam is the 'work of the devil' Williams replied "I believe that Islam is a false religion yes."[37] In the documentary, Williams addresses the LCF's track record of losing cases by saying "it's vital that these issues are aired and won in the court room."[37] David Modell concludes that, "perhaps one of the problems is that she relies on evidence that has no apparent basis in reality."[37] Williams also discussed her involvement in the Andrew McClintock case - a magistrate who opposed gay adoption cases and who received support from Lawyers' Christian Fellowship.[38] Williams stated:

it's not about the oppression of the homosexual community but the evidence shows that children raised in those households are more likely to be gender confused, more likely to be drug dependent, more likely to not finish school.[37]

Modell concluded that Williams was "a colourful and powerful campaigner for the implementation of radical Christian views" and that she "believes any law that goes against her strict biblical beliefs must be fought".[39][40] The programme includes footage of Wililams stating that the Human Fertilisation Bill was "the work of the devil", that homosexuality is sinful, that abortion should be illegal, and that the world is just 4,000 years old.[39][40]  

Working relationship with Nadine Dorries

Christian Concern's director Andrea Williams has a closely working relationship with British conservative politician Nadine Dorries.[37][41] Williams was a team member of Dorries' campaign to reduce the upper limit on abortion to 20 weeks - a campaign that was partly funded by Christian Concern.[41] Wiliams who wrote the anti-abortion amendments for Dorries.[37] In the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, "In God's Name", Dorries was asked how closely she worked with Williams and replied, ""Closely? We've been stuck to the hip. Very closely."[37] In reference to her campaign, Dorries also said:

What goes on in here would have no structure whatsover, no sense of achievement if it wasn't for people like Andrea on the outside. You know, the Lawyers Christian Fellowhsip, the Medical Christian Fellowship on this particular issue are absolutely vital because they give us the information[37]

In the same documentary, Dorries claimed she had not discussed Williams' views on Islam. Williams, who was sat next to her, proceeded to say "I believe that Islam is a false religion" and switched off her microphone.[37]

Reaction to Living in Love and Faith

Ben John of Christian Concern in his response to Living in Love and Faith, part of a number of resources encouraging more LGBT inclusion within the Church of England, argued against transgender rights, saying that "transgenderism is a false ideology". In response to comments from Alex Clare-Young (a non-binary minister of the United Reformed Church) and their wife, John said "what we're actually seeing here is a lesbian couple. This man isn't really a man. She's a woman. ... These were leaders in the church. Should we be ordaining transgender people?"[42] He also criticised comments made by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, by saying "We have bishops openly promoting homosexual, practising relationships, transgenderism and yet we tolerate that. That is not love. It seems to me that Archbishop Justin is implying that there's all these different views, [that] we need to listen to one another and accept one another. But the reality is that some views should not be accepted or tolerated. There are some views that we need to condemn."[42]

In response, Clare-Young asked John to re-edit his video and remove personal attacks, saying that the comments "were leading to personal harm to myself, my wife, and the others in the video. ... It describes me and my wife as being in a same-sex marriage, which isn't true."[42] In response, Andrea Williams denied the comments were hateful, and said they upheld a "Biblical understanding of sex and gender."[42] The police are currently investigating the comments as a potential hate crime.[42]

See also

References
  1. "CCFON LIMITED". Companies House.
  2. CCFON Limited Filing History, 'Total exemption full accounts made up to 30 June 2019', '6 Going Concern - The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis on the directors assumption that this not for profit company will continue to meet its obligations as they fall due.' Companies House, Retrieved 29 July 2020
  3. Andrea Williams: The unstoppable founder of Christian Concern, Premier Christianity. Retrieved 29 July 2020
  4. ‘We are not the mouthpiece of any organisation. The Gospel is not right or left wing’, The Times. Retrieved 15 October 2022
  5. Christian parent threatens legal action over school's 'gay pride parade' The Guardian. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018
  6. About Us, Christian Concern. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  7. "Christian Concern - People". Christian Concern. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2016. Andrea Minichiello Williams - Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
  8. Christian Concern Press release dated 16 July 2009. Retrieved on 15 February 2012.
  9. Jenkins, P. (2007), God's continent: Christianity, Islam, and Europe's religious crisis, Oxford University Press, (p.278).
  10. Jennifer Gold (20 February 2007). "Lord Carey Makes Prayer Plea as General Synod Prepares for Gay Debate". Christian Today. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  11. "The Christians' Advocate: Interview with Andrea Minichiello Williams of CCFON". Evangelicals Now. April 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  12. "Christian Concern for our Nation". Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. Can a charity have a political purpose? Archived 31 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine Charity Commission. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  14. CCFON Ltd entry at companiesintheuk.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  15. "Christian Concern - Our New Name and Website". us2.campaign-archive.com.
  16. Christian Legal Centre. Retrieved 15 February 2012
  17. "Christian Concern - People". Christian Concern. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2016. Sam Solomon - Islamic Affairs Consultant
  18. Sam Solomon (4 February 2014). "Proposed code of conduct for British Muslims commissioned by Ukip MEP Gerard Batten". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  19. "Imam blames Christian Leaders for the Persecutions of Christians". Christian Concern. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2016. Can he not ask prominent Muslim leaders to sign up to basic freedoms in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, or the Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding?
  20. "About Christian Concern". ChristianConcern.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2020. ...in the last few decades the nation has largely turned her back on Jesus and embraced alternative ideas such as secular liberal humanism, moral relativism and sexual licence. The fruit of this is rotten, and can be seen in widespread family breakdown, immorality and social disintegration. ... We want to be a strong Christian voice in the public sphere, arguing passionately for the truth of the Gospel and defending the historic freedoms that we have enjoyed in this nation for so long. We believe that by doing so, society as a whole will benefit. We seek to highlight injustice, change public opinion on issues of key importance and affect policy at the highest levels. We engage on a broad large range of issues, including abortion, adoption and fostering, bioethics, marriage, education, employment, end of life, equality, family, free speech, Islamism, religious freedom, the sex trade, social issues and issues relating to sexual orientation.
  21. "Church of England in formal support for civil partnerships". Christian Concern. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  22. "CofE Campaigns to retain civil partnerships". Christian Concern. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  23. "CofE bishop reveals he is in a homosexual relationship". Christian Concern. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  24. "The transgender issue is a first-order gospel issue". Christian Concern. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  25. Religious Hatred Bill victory, Christian Concern, 31 January 2006
  26. "Church groups to march against sexuality law". The Guardian. 9 January 2007.
  27. Byers, David (9 January 2007). "Gay rights laws draw religious protest". The Times. Retrieved 25 November 2020. A total of 10,000 people have already signed a petition to the Queen organised by Christian Concern for Our Nation, part of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, which complains that the new law would have the consequence of "discriminating heavily" against Christians of all backgrounds and denominations. (subscription required)
  28. "Scientists in hybrid embryos plea". 24 April 2018 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  29. "'Chastity ring' girl loses case". 16 July 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  30. Ruth Gledhill, Gay row foster parents win right not to 'promote' homosexuality, 1 November 2007, The Times
  31. Christians launch defence of faith 'under attack, BBC News, 1 December 2010
  32. "Actor's homophobia made her commercially toxic, tribunal told". TheGuardian.com. 8 February 2021.
  33. Is Seyi Omooba Lying?. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
  34. "REVIEW: THE COLOR PURPLE (Cadogan Hall) ★★★★★". 22 May 2017.
  35. "Actor loses tribunal claim over loss of Color Purple role after homophobic comments". TheGuardian.com. 17 February 2021.
  36. The Right Hand of God, Sunny Hundal, New Statesman, 24 April 2010.
  37. Dispatches: In God's Name, retrieved 5 September 2022
  38. Writer, PinkNews Staff (2 March 2007). "Magistrate not allowed to refuse gay adoption cases". PinkNews. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  39. David Modell (19 May 2008). "Dispatches: Making a giant leap of faith". The Independent. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  40. David Modell (17 May 2008). "Christian fundamentalists fighting spiritual battle in Parliament". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  41. "Fundamentally flawed". The Guardian. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  42. Ames, Jonathan; Bannerman, Lucy (30 November 2020). "Police investigate alleged hate against trans clergy". The Times. Retrieved 30 November 2020. (subscription required)
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