Editing Open Brethren (section)

===Political influence===
Some of the more conservative assemblies discourage political involvement, sometimes to the extent of judging anyone in fellowship who opts to exercise their voting rights in democratic, free elections. This teaching is based on the premise that the Bible teaches that Christians are citizens of heaven, only sojourners here on earth, and therefore ought not to become involved in activities which could be deemed as being too worldly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.preciousseed.org/search_articles.php?search_phrase=my+responsibility+to+civil+authorities |title=Precious Seed |publisher=Precious Seed |access-date=2010-10-24 |archive-date=8 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208081821/http://www.preciousseed.org/search_articles.php?search_phrase=my+responsibility+to+civil+authorities |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some have claimed that the movement, with its upper-class roots, lacks compassion for the plight of the underprivileged, alleging, example, that it was left to non-Brethren like [[William Wilberforce]], [[Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury|Lord Shaftesbury]], and other politically active Christians to work toward the abolition of slavery and toward improving the welfare of factory children in the nineteenth century. Many Brethren, however, see this as unfair criticism and point to [[George Müller|George Müller's]] ministry caring for homeless orphans and also to the sacrifices of its missionaries such as [[Anthony Norris Groves]]. It is more reasonable, they claim, to state that the Brethren are more concerned with people's spiritual needs than with their physical condition. However, where physical help is given, it tends to be given directly and not through secular organisations.

In some parts of the world, this aversion to political involvement is no longer widely held. At least two members of the [[Parliament of New Zealand|New Zealand Parliament]] have belonged to the Open Brethren: [[Owen Jennings]], an elder of the [[Karamea]] assembly (for the [[ACT New Zealand]] Party), and [[Joe Hawke]]<ref name="Windsor Community Church">{{cite web |url=http://123.255.47.32:8080/church/Publications/Sermons/141214.pdf |title=Te Rongopai - Christianity & Colonial Complications |publisher=Windsor Community Church |date=2014-12-14 |access-date=2015-05-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524174620/http://123.255.47.32:8080/church/Publications/Sermons/141214.pdf |archive-date=2015-05-24 }}</ref> (for the [[New Zealand Labour Party]]). Both served from 1996 to 2002. In Canada, [[Cam Guthrie]], a member of Lakeside Church, a Brethren-rooted<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brethrenmatch.com/index.php/blog/396-bible-chapels-in-ontario-gospel-halls-in-ontario-brethren-assemblies-in-ontario |title=Bible Chapels in Ontario |publisher=Brethrenmatch.com|access-date=2015-05-25}}</ref> [[megachurch]],<ref name="canadianchristianity.com">{{cite web|url=http://canadianchristianity.com/ottawawatch-suicide-elder-abuse-2664/ |title=OttawaWatch: Suicide and elder abuse |publisher=CANADIAN CHRISTIANITY YOUR NATIONAL CHRISTIAN NEWS & MINISTRY SOURCE |date=2011-11-22 |access-date=2015-05-25}}</ref> was elected Mayor of [[Guelph]], [[Ontario]], in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://guelph.ca/city-hall/mayor-and-council/mayors-office/ |title=Mayor's Office |publisher=City of Guelph|access-date=2015-05-25}}</ref> [[Frank Valeriote]], the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] [[Parliament of Canada|Member of Parliament]] for the riding of [[Guelph (federal electoral district)|Guelph]], also attends Lakeside Church, even though he identifies as [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/2010/100513ottawa.html |author=Lloyd Mackey |title=OttawaWatch: The British Experience |publisher=CANADIAN CHRISTIANITY YOUR NATIONAL CHRISTIAN NEWS & MINISTRY SOURCE |date=2010-05-13 |access-date=2015-05-25 |archive-date=24 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524180225/http://canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/2010/100513ottawa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>