Being one of the well-known evangelical organisations in the United Kingdom, Christian Concern is a non-profit advocacy group, saddled with the responsibility of seeking alteration to laws, as well as influencing the government and the media on issues relating to the Christian faith.
Christian Concern, which was formed in 2004 as a part of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship, possesses a mailing list of about 43,000 people and is associated with the Christian Legal Centre Organisation.
The organisation is widely known for its opinion for or against trends of liberal Christianity in the United Kingdom and larger community. It views the society as “having turned (its) back on Jesus” and hence the idea of secular liberal humanism, moral relativism, and sexual licence, which has been a causative agent for immorality, broken family, and social disintegration. Christian concern views any alternative to Christian doctrines as “rotten” and pushes to fight them by politically engaging with issues such as abortion, adoption, Islam, fostering, and sexual orientation.Â
In 2014, Christian Concern’s Andrea Williams opposed the decision of the Church of England in response to a government survey on civil partnership support. Likewise, in 2018, the organisation criticised the Anglican Church for supporting civil partnerships. 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.” The organisation had also opposed the appointment of Nicholas Chamberlain as the Bishop of Grantham, knowing fully well that he was involved in same-sex relationship.
Historically speaking, a barrister and evangelical activist, Andrea Minichiello Williams, co-founded Christian Concerns in 2004 as part of Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship up until 2008. In 2006, it acquired an internet domain which was registered using the name “Christian Concern For Our Nation (CCFON),” 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”. They described themselves as (consisting) “a website and email update service supported by an active team of lawyers”.Â
In 2008, Christian Concern dissociated from the LCF in order not to tamper with their charitable course, because according to the UK law, political activity is not accommodated under a charitable organisation. CCFON was incorporated as an independent body on June 24, 2008.
Christian Concern had engaged in several Campaigns to fulfil the aim of the organisation. Between late 2005 and early 2006, the advocacy organisation campaigned together with other Christian groups to stop the passing of the Religious Hatred Bill, which was later passed with corrections in the House of Lords.Â
Likewise in 2006/2007, organised a rally outside the parliament to criticise some parts of the Equality Act Sexual Orientation Regulations., and also put forward a petition that garnered over 10,000 signatures on the basis that the new law would “discriminate heavily” against Christians.
From years back till the recent, Christian Concerns had intervened in a number of cases involving the Christian faith and belief.
