THE METHODIST CHURCH THE BAPTIST UNION OF GREAT BRITAIN THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

NEWS RELEASE

14 March 2007

Churches denounce Trident vote

Leaders from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church have expressed deep concern over Parliament's call to replace the Trident Nuclear Weapons System. Anthea Cox, Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice for the Methodist Church said; 'This seriously undermines the UK's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and the extent of the backbench rebellion demonstrates that many feel passionately that the Government has got this decision wrong. The Government promised a full public debate but instead this early vote in the House of Commons has rushed the discussion while crucial questions remain unanswered.' Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and Unity for the Baptist Union said; 'The use of nuclear weapons is unthinkable. Rather than invest a vast amount of public money in a system that it can never be right to use, the Government ought to be making clear commitments to peacemaking. Trident can never provide the UK with any real security.' Stuart Dew, Secretary for Church and Society, the United Reformed Church commented: 'We are deeply disappointed at the call to renew Trident. The Government has ignored the global demand to rid the world of nuclear weapons, claiming that it is acceptable for some states to hold them while for others it is not. This is a commitment to injustice over peace.' The three Churches made a joint submission to the Defence Committee, arguing that the Government has not fully addressed the security risks associated with a renewal of Trident. They state that it is vital to control the proliferation of weapons technology and they raise concerns over the Government's claim that Trident might provide protection against state-sponsored nuclear terrorism. Representatives from the Churches were present at the rally in Parliament Square, organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Notes

1.A speech given at the rally by Anthea Cox is available. Please contact Toby Scott: 07881783812.

2.The Joint Public Issues Team's full submission to the Defence Committee in relation to the White Paper 'The Future of the UK's Strategic Nuclear Deterrent' is available. Please contact Anna Drew on 0207 467 5191, drewa@methodistchurch.org.uk.

3.The most recent statements from the Churches on Trident can be found at: www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/jpitnews.htm#04_12_2006. The Joint Public Issues Team, created in September 2006, combines the expertise of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church in the area of public issues. It is a pilot project for a year to help the churches to increase their effectiveness by working together and learning from the feedback they receive.

There are some 150,000 members of Baptist churches associated with the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The Methodist Church has about 295,000 members and 800,000 people are connected with the Church. The United Reformed Church comprises about 150,000 adults and 100,000 children. The three denominations are the largest of the Free Churches in Britain.

For more information contact Toby Scott.

Toby Scott
Co-Head of Communications (Media Relations)
Methodist Church House,
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
Tel 020 7467 5221 Fax 020 7467 5229
Mobile/Out of hours 07881 783 812
Email scottt@methodistchurch.org.uk

Anna Drew
Media and Information Assistant
Methodist Church House,
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
Tel 020 7467 5191 Fax 020 7467 5229
Email drewa@methodistchurch.org.uk