EA responds to ban on US pastor

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Friday, 21 January 2011 12:49

Evangelical Alliance responds to Home Office ban on US Pastor Jones

The Evangelical Alliance, an organisation that represents more than a million evangelical Christians in the UK, has commented on Home Office ban on US Pastor Terry Jones from entering Britain.

Only last month, Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, made personal contact with the Florida-based pastor asking him to refrain from visiting Britain on the grounds that his entry could incite hatred and tensions among different religious and ethnic groups.

Mr Clifford said: "I had hoped Terry Jones would see sense and decide for himself not to come as his visit risked inflaming tension and inciting violence so I understand why the Home Secretary has taken this step."

Mr Clifford points out that Pastor Jones' understanding of the Christian faith is at odds with all but a very small minority of believers, adding: "Christians are called to be passionate peacemakers, challenging any attitude that would lead to violence and respecting even those with whom we would disagree."

The Home Office barred the preacher from entering the UK on grounds of his ‘extremism' after he was invited by a far-right group to take part in a series of demonstrations against the expansion of Islam and the construction of mosques in the UK.