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CAMPAIGN: Livingstone (right) with Rev Al Sharpton. ‘Black Christians are frustrated with planning regulations’ he said

A new campaign is aiming to encourage the Government to relax the planning restrictions faced by black led churches that want to build new places of worship.

Christians and church goers are being asked to support the campaign’s petition, which is being organised by businessman and founder of the African Caribbean Community Network, Mauvery Livingstone.

Livingstone decided to start the campaign after a growing number of churches were facing problems getting planning permission to build new premises.

Due to the lack of designated church buildings in towns and cities, many ministries are turning to warehouses on industrial estates to house their growing congregations, as well as providing a home for church based community groups.

But strict regulations often mean that the planning permission is not granted.

The New Testament Church of God, the Church of God of Prophecy, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Seventh Day Adventist Church and some Baptist churches are amongst the organisations that have given their support to the petition and who are encouraging their members to sign it.

Livingstone told Soul Stirrings that he believes it is vitally important for the black Christian community to support the petition.

“We all have a vested interest. The black Christian community is experiencing great frustration in getting planning permission to use a building as a place of worship. I recognise that planners are not doing this on purpose but we need buildings to house growing congregations as well as provide much needed projects for the local community in which they are based.”

He is hoping to collect thousands of signature and aims to hand in the petition by April.

To sign the petition visit www.operationfreedomtoworship.co.uk

Published: 01 March 2010
Issue: 1412

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