Proposal to accommodate Christian street preaching in our towns to be submitted to Parliament
A new United Kingdom guide to help street preachers in public places know the legal and free speech rights has been launched by the Christian Institute and will be submitted for parliamentary approval at Westminster.
'The Street Preacher's Charter' sets out the rules and responsibilities for open-air evangelism. It covers topics such as: ‘What Can I Say?’, ‘Where Can I Preach?’, as well as anti-social behaviour laws.
Recent months have seen several clashes in mainland Britain between street preachers and police officers, with blurred lines over controversial speech amounting to offensive speech, and even criminality.
Sam Webster, head of legal affairs at the Christian Institute in Britain, said he authored the charter to reset civil relationships between police officers and evangelists, and create a mutual understanding of respect.
“We should not have a situation where simply somebody being offended is cause for police intervention,” he said. “What we seek to do is set out the legal rights and protections which street preachers have enjoyed for hundreds of years in this country, but also the duties and responsibilities that go with being a street preacher.”
Mr Webster said the Christian Institute is “mindful of the difficult job” police officers are tasked with, when protecting public spaces. “More often than not, cases happen through misunderstanding. We hope this document will be of mutual interest.”
The Charter is not only backed by Christians. Westminster independent peer; Baroness Claire Fox, an open non-believer and former member of the Living Marxism movement, was part of its charter launch panel.
She expressed her concern at police intervention over any freedom of expression, and said that both Christians and Marxists can rally around the idea of protecting speech in the public square.
Mr Webster added: “It is vitally important that the gospel is preached. Nowhere should be out of bounds for that, but we want it to be done in a responsible way. That’s part of our witness as Christians – that when we share the gospel it is done in a winsome, accountable way.”
Christian street preaching is a long tradition in cities and large towns across the United Kingdom. In Northern Ireland, street preachers, some affiliated to various Protestant denominations and others non-affiliated, proclaim the evangelical gospel message with sincere conviction in urban open spaces of our cities and towns, mostly and week-ends.
Gospel musical accompaniment is provided by some preachers and, generally, their presence, certainly in Northern Ireland, is welcomed.