Christian Council of Britain
Encyclopedia
The Christian Council of Britain (CCoB) is an organisation founded by Rev Robert West. While it claims to be "an independent, non-political organisation autonomous of any political party in Britain," the CCoB is closely associated with the British National Party
.
West, a former Conservative Party
councillor who was suspended from Lincoln's race equality council in 2006 due to his links with the BNP later stood for them in the 2009 Norwich North by-election
and Lincoln
in the General election of 2010 losing his deposit in both cases.
He also stood unsuccessfully in the 2009 European elections
in the East Midlands
region.
The BNP states that the CCoB will evolve to become a church in its own right with its own membership, separate from that of existing Christian churches. In January 2010, the CCoB held a Christian service in a hall in Loughton
, Essex.
, the BNP claims the Council was set up by British Christians of various denominations with assistance from members and supporters of the BNP in April 2006. BNP web editor Steve Blake who runs an IT consultancy registered the URL christiancouncil.org.uk on behalf of the CCoB and provided a basic template for the fledgling organisation's website. The Observer reported on April 16, 2006 that Clive Potter, another member of the BNP was to be the president of the CCoB..
and leadership and the ordination of homosexual men. The Council believes that there is a 'godly importance of race and nation' and 'especially' welcomes white British Christians into membership of the organisation.
or treats people as inferior because of their race
, beliefs or for any other reason' and argues against the CCoB's theological views on separation of races.
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
.
West, a former Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
councillor who was suspended from Lincoln's race equality council in 2006 due to his links with the BNP later stood for them in the 2009 Norwich North by-election
Norwich North by-election, 2009
The 2009 Norwich North by-election was a by-election for the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Commons constituency of Norwich North. The by-election took place due to the resignation of Ian Gibson after being banned from standing as a Labour candidate for the next general election...
and Lincoln
Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)
Lincoln is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in the General election of 2010 losing his deposit in both cases.
He also stood unsuccessfully in the 2009 European elections
European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
in the East Midlands
East Midlands (European Parliament constituency)
East Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 5 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
region.
The BNP states that the CCoB will evolve to become a church in its own right with its own membership, separate from that of existing Christian churches. In January 2010, the CCoB held a Christian service in a hall in Loughton
Loughton
Loughton is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located between 11 and 13 miles north east of Charing Cross in London, south of the M25 and west of the M11 motorway and has boundaries with Chingford, Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill...
, Essex.
Formation and association with the BNP
Taking its name directly in imitation of the Muslim Council of BritainMuslim Council of Britain
The Muslim Council of Britain is a self-appointed umbrella body for national, regional, local and specialist organisations and institutions from different ethnic and sectarian backgrounds within British Islamic society. It was established in 1997 to help Muslims, to increase education about the...
, the BNP claims the Council was set up by British Christians of various denominations with assistance from members and supporters of the BNP in April 2006. BNP web editor Steve Blake who runs an IT consultancy registered the URL christiancouncil.org.uk on behalf of the CCoB and provided a basic template for the fledgling organisation's website. The Observer reported on April 16, 2006 that Clive Potter, another member of the BNP was to be the president of the CCoB..
Beliefs
Although non-denominational the CCoB has adopted reformed Protestant Christianity as its official doctrinal basis. It has identified the main challenges to the existence of a Christian national identity to be Islam and political correctness. The CCoB is opposed to female ordinationOrdination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
and leadership and the ordination of homosexual men. The Council believes that there is a 'godly importance of race and nation' and 'especially' welcomes white British Christians into membership of the organisation.
Opposition
The Christian Council of Britain has been criticised by a number of mainline British Christian organisations who claim that 'Christian belief is incompatible with any political party or philosophy that is based on hatredHatred
Hatred is a deep and emotional extreme dislike, directed against a certain object or class of objects. The objects of such hatred can vary widely, from inanimate objects to animals, oneself or other people, entire groups of people, people in general, existence, or the whole world...
or treats people as inferior because of their race
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, beliefs or for any other reason' and argues against the CCoB's theological views on separation of races.
External links
- http://christiancouncilofbritain.co.uk/