Political campaigns, voting, and the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church 

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church does not make, and has never made, political donations and does not support political parties or individual candidates. Nor has the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church ever organised or coordinated any political volunteerism or donations of any type in any location. 

We are a faith-based community with 55,000 members across the globe. While our parishioners are brought together by their shared Christian beliefs founded on the Holy Bible, they are also individuals free to exercise their democratic rights however they wish. The political beliefs of individual parishioners should not be taken as a representation of the Church’s views. 

Do members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church vote? 

The decision to vote or abstain on religious grounds is a personal choice.  

There is a religious basis for abstaining from voting that can be found in Romans 13 which states, amongst other things, that “For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God”.  Traditionally, this meant many of the Plymouth Brethren faith chose not to vote. Even in Australia where it is compulsory to vote there is the option to abstain for religious reasons. But it was never a rule and never a test of fellowship. 

However, over the past few decades, practices and norms in our Church have evolved – just like many other religious groups. One of the changes our Church has observed is more of our members these days choose to vote, form and express political beliefs and opinions, and volunteer for political parties.  

It is important that this democratic right be respected, while the right of those to abstain on religious grounds remains protected. 

Like anyone else in society, if individual Church members take an interest in politics and decide to support an individual politician or campaign, this is at their own discretion, and they do not represent the Church’s views when doing so. 

In this video clip taken from the Behind the Plymouth Brethren podcast, you can hear from members themselves talking about politics, voting and volunteering.  

Members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church also spoke to the Daily Telegraph in 2025 about voting.  

The 2025 Australian Federal Election Claims aired by the ABC Four Corners program 

In the lead up to the 2025 Australian Federal Election held, there were hundreds of media stories claiming that the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church was involved in the campaign. These allegations were incorrect. Members of our Church are free to participate in the democratic process if they wish but this does not mean the Church itself is involved. 

The media reports and references to them by several politicians resulted in multiple counts of religious discrimination experienced by our parishioners.  

Similar claims of political interference were aired by the ABC program Four Corners in October 2025. The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church’s full response to ABC Four Corners can be read here and the statement issued following the program can be read here.  

The parliamentary inquiry into the 2025 Australian federal election 

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is holding an inquiry into all aspects of the conduct of the 2025 Australian federal election and related matters.  

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church made a submission to the inquiry, which can be read here.  

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is concerned that the Church and its members are being unfairly targeted during this parliamentary process and was disturbed by the Committee chair’s comments that the electoral participation of people from our religion in elections is an “assault on democracy”. 

There are other religious organisations that share our concerns, and our submission references statements made in support of the PBCC. Here are some excerpts:  

Freedom for Faith Board Chairman, Bishop Michael Stead:  

“The Plymouth Brethren are a mainstream Christian denomination. Members of that church have as much right as any other Australian to participate in the electoral process. I understand that some members of that church do not vote on religious grounds, exercising their right to conscientious objection. It is disappointing that this right has been weaponised against all members of the church. 

Crosslink Christian Network Chair Brian Medway:  

“For some reason it has become OK to criticise Brethren parishioners for their eating and socialising practices; to question whether they should be allowed to participate in democratic elections; or to take issue with their (some would say conventional, others would disagree) interpretations of the Bible. None of this is OK.”