“Why don’t some Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members vote?” – a clarification and explanation

There are passages in the Holy Bible such as Daniel Chapter 2 and Romans Chapter 13, which state in part that “he removeth kings, and setteth up kings” and “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”. An interpretation of these passages is that only God can appoint and remove leaders.

Belonging to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church means living according to the Holy Bible. Since our church was established, many church members have abstained from voting. Even in countries with compulsory voting like Australia, there are legal exemptions for abstaining for religious reasons. But these days, more church members are choosing to vote. It has always been ultimately a personal decision for each individual to make. Along with all other persons that refrain from voting on religious grounds, we trust this right is respected and upheld.

Do Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Members Vote?

Members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church are free to vote or abstain from voting. The decision is a personal one based on individual beliefs and convictions.

Some Brethren choose to abstain from voting for religious reasons. This understanding is linked to teachings found in Romans Chapter 13 (“there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”) and in Daniel Chapter 2 (“He removeth kings, and setteth up kings”).

Historically, this interpretation meant that many members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church did not participate in elections.

In countries such as Australia, where voting is compulsory, members may comply with electoral laws while continuing to follow their personal religious convictions.

Abstaining from voting has never been a condition of fellowship. Both voting and abstaining are personal decisions that are respected within the Church.

Like many religious communities, practices within the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church have developed over time.

In recent decades, increasing numbers of individual members have chosen to participate in elections, including the Australian federal election, while others continue to abstain for religious reasons.

Members may also choose to express their own political opinions and participate in civic life as private citizens. Each members’ choice on voting is not subject to secrecy, but nor is it something widely discussed.

And importantly, the Church does not endorse political parties, candidates or political platforms.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church does not get involved in politics

Individual church members may be involved in politics, as is their right as citizens regardless of their religion. This may include:

• Voting in elections.
• Volunteering during an election campaign.
• Donating to political parties.
• Supporting or participating in campaigning
• Expressing personal political views.

It is important to understand that any such activity is undertaken as an individual and does not represent the views or policies of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church itself does not participate in the political process. The Church has never and would never donate to political parties or individual candidates in any country. Likewise, the Church does not organise, coordinate or direct campaigning, election volunteers or political fundraising on behalf of any political party or candidate.

The political persuasions of individual members should not be conflated with the church itself. The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is a global Christian community with more than 55,000 members worldwide. While united by a shared Christian faith, members remain individuals who are free to exercise their own democratic rights and make personal political decisions. The Church’s position remains that political participation is a matter for individual members acting in a personal capacity.

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

The political participation of some members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has occasionally been the subject of scrutiny from some sections of the media and members of parliament. Most recently, this occurred in Australia ahead of the 2025 Federal Election.

During this time, our Church received numerous inquiries from journalists. These related to reports of church members campaigning for the election of a Coalition Government, supporting Peter Dutton and other Liberal Party candidates, and volunteering at pre-polling booths and on election day. The resulting media coverage included conjecture about the Church’s status as a charity.

This intense public scrutiny of our Church and its members was compounded by negative commentary from politicians. Since this time, our Church has been the subject of discussion at hearings of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters as part of its inquiry into the 2025 federal election. We have cooperated with this parliamentary process, and a representative will give evidence at a public hearing in due course.

Did members of the church get involved in the Australian Federal Election?

It would certainly be unusual practice for our Church – or any Church – to monitor the political participation of its members or carry out an investigation following an election; however, due to the public scrutiny our Church faced, we became aware that some members did choose to volunteer and campaign.

You can see videos of some members talking about their reasons for volunteering over on our YouTube channel, including this episode of the Behind the Plymouth Brethren podcast, or read the text of the episodes here.

Faith and Separation

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is sometimes described as a separatist Christian denomination because of our long-standing emphasis on maintaining a distinct Christian way of life. Church teachings encourage members to separate from practices they believe are inconsistent with Biblical principles while remaining respectful, law-abiding citizens.

Church leadership, including church elders, provides spiritual guidance on matters of faith and doctrine. Political decisions, however, remain matters of personal conscience for individual members.