Christian Concern is the trading name of CCFON Ltd, a British nonprofit described as 'one of the most prominent evangelical organisations in the United Kingdom', reaching a mailing list of more than 43,000 people, which seeks to introduce a more conservative Christian voice into law, the media, and government.
History
The organisation was co-founded by the barrister and evangelical activist Andrea Minichiello Williams. Before 2008 it was a network run from The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship'sPublic Policy Unit, which was then headed by Williams. An internet domain was registered to publicise this work, using the name Christian Concern For Our Nation and in 2006, CCFON described itself as Williams stated that she decided to set up a separate organisation in June 2008 so as not to jeopardise the charitable status of the LCF and CCFON Ltd was incorporated as an independent body on 24 June 2008. In October 2010, CCFON Ltd shortened its operating name to Christian Concern. Williams is currently CEO of Christian Concern and is also 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." Sam Solomon is a consultant for Christian Concern, advising on Islamic affairs. Solomon wrote A Proposed Charter of Muslim Understanding for UKIP MEP Gerard Batten, who wrote the forward to the charter. A link to the charter has featured on the website since at least 2009. It is currently based in the City of Westminster.
Agenda
Christian Concern states, that as a result of society turning its back on Jesus the growth of ideas such as "secular liberal humanism, moral relativism and sexual licence" 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 remedy the situation by engaging politically with a broad 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. They are opposed to liberalising trends in the Church of England. In 2014, the Church of England responded in support of civil partnerships to a government survey and Christian Concern's Andrea Williams opposed the church's decision. In 2018, Christian Concern criticised the Anglican church for supporting civil partnerships; arguing against civil unions, Christian Concern said "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 in this case." 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. Christian Concern also opposed the church's decision to affirm transgender members.
Notable campaigns
In 2005 and early 2006, the group campaigned alongside other Christian bodies to stop the Religious Hatred Bill. The bill was passed, with amendments in the House of Lords. In 2006 and 2007 they opposed segments of the Sexual Orientation Regulations, organising a rally outside Parliament and a petition which gained over 10,000 signatures, on the grounds that they claimed the new law would "discriminate heavily" against Christians. From autumn 2007, they campaigned against some clauses in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, organising a demonstration outside Parliament in January 2008. Both Bills subsequently passed reading in the House of Commons without amendment. In 2007, they 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 her human rights had been violated under the European Convention on Human Rights, but the High Court found against her, awarding her school £12,000 costs. Also in 2007, they supported foster parents who had refused to sign a new contract drawn up to implement the Sexual Orientation Regulations. 'Not Ashamed' was a campaign 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 claimed.
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 journalistDavid Modell followed Andrea Minichiello Williams who, at the time, was public policy director of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship. The film highlighted the LCF's involvement in lobbying the British Government on issues such as abortion, gay rights and the enforcing of laws relating to blasphemy. 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." The programme included footage of Williams' meetings with Conservative politicians Norman Tebbit and Nadine Dorries, both of whom have worked with the LCF to influence policy on matters where they had a common agenda. Williams is reported as 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.
