With the Snap federal election scheduled for April 28, 2025, Canada’s Evangelical Fellowship (EFC) has released resources to guide Christian voters on prayer, political engagement and church legal responsibility during the campaign.
The election was announced by the office of the Canadian House Speaker on Sunday, March 23rd.
“Today, her Governor General issued a declaration at the Prime Minister’s recommendation that the 44th Parliament be dissolved. The general election will be held on Monday, April 28th, 2025.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney took over as leadership following the resignation of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 6th. Reports say the Snap elections have garnered public support in response to trade tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
Carney leads the Liberal Party to an election against Conservative leader Pierre Polièble. Other political parties fighting for support include the New Democrats led by Jagmeet Singh and the French-speaking Quebec nationalist party led by Yves François Blanchet.
In response, the EFC released a pamphlet entitled Faith, Voting and Political Engagement. This provides guidance to election-led Canadian Christians and emphasizes the importance of prayer.
“When Christians vote, we actively seek the interests of us and those around our country (Jer. 29:5-6),” the EFC pamphlet reminds us. “Voting is one way Christians can contribute to society and the public interest. As with all their involvement in life and communities, participation in public policy and politics is part of our witness.”
“The Bible calls us to pray for our leaders. Let us invite God to work with the hearts and hearts of all Canadians and pray for the future of our nation,” the pamphlet adds.
The EFC encourages prayers to candidates, voters, elected officials and to the nation as a whole, referring to Romans 15:13.
“We pray for wisdom and grace for the candidates, may they seek the benefit of the nation,” the pamphlet says. “We pray for a deeper understanding of our role as citizens and greater love for our neighbors. We ask that God-elected people and their families be blessed and protected.
The pamphlet outlines how evangelicals can respect candidates by asking questions about a variety of important social and political issues, including:
What steps will we take to support Canada’s conscience and religious freedom? How do you protect your child from harmful access to online porn? What legal protections do you support for pregnant women and their fetus? Will it stop the expansion of medical support in dying only to people with mental illness and prevent it from spreading to children/young people under the age of 18? Do you support current prostitution laws targeting the demand for paid sex? What measures do you propose to take care of the environment in Canada and globally?
Church leaders also recall legal obligations under Canadian election law.
According to the EFC, churches registered as charities must follow the guidelines of the Canada Revenue Agency. Church employees and members are permitted to engage in “partisan activities in their own personal time using their resources.”
However, the church as an institution must avoid supporting political parties and candidates, even if the candidate is a member of the congregation. This includes not distributing signs about political literature or church property, or inviting only candidates to choose during the election period.
“The church can invite congregations to pray for all candidates, be informed and voted,” the pamphlet says, adding that the church will “convey a meeting of all defensive men or invite all candidates to speak at the same event.”
They can also provide “information on issues flowing from biblical education, unless they are linked to a single candidate or political party.”
Finally, the Church must not “emphasize how one candidate or party voted” or “connect the Church’s views on issues of concern with a particular candidate or party.”
Details of the candidates and the election itself can be found in the election.
