Freedom of expression in the UK

I will by no means take any advise I am given to be legally accurate, but please if you have anything to share please let me know.

My question is - Does the freedom of expression include private property - say like a shopping center of conference hall?

How about the car park outside the conference hall?

I need some advise before Wednesday, we are possibly doing the Mock funeral, but we are definitely handing out tracts and free flowers as the event that we are going to be outside of is on Valentines day. The guy is Derek Ancorah, but we are not there to slandour the man, just take advantage that there is a gathering of sheep at the event.

Please let me know, if it was just me, Id go do and be ignorant of my rights if I get moved on, but Ive got about 10 other people to help me adn they are a bit concerned that we might not be entitled to do what we are going to do.

A brother in Christ

I am from Hemel Hempstead if you do not know where that is it is where there was a massive explosion, I have heard of Derek Acorah and know what evil he has been in this country.
I have been handing out tracks in Hemel Hempstead and have not had any problems.
Remember that god is with you.
All I would suggest is go for it!!! Give god the Glory!!

you need to check the bylaws of the local council, here up north they are trying to get a new law to stop people putting leaflets on windscreens in carparks, while I would tend to agree, being a driver, I can see how the next step is to stop giving out leaflets in any public places. All in the name of reducing litter. Quite anoying when you see McDonalds trash everywhere, till receipts and the biggest of all: ATM receipts!

Different councils have different bylaws. Though if you are careful you can make sure you're not indiscriminately giving out tracts but offering them to anyone who willingly accepts them.

And a good thing to do is to make sure if you see any of your literature on the floor, pick it up and bin it (or sometimes you can re-use it).

now, telll us where you are, we're always interested in what's going on in this country.

Ste, up near Liverpool.

I can understand Christians getting radical, but to do a "Mock Funeral"? Can't the word be preached without the gimmicks? We've seen shows for years, trying to get people frightened of hell to get them saved. When the gospel of reconcilation is being sent out the holy Ghost will convict hearts. Conviction doesn't come by exhibitions, it comes by the Spirit of God. Zach 4:6

I agree entirely...

As far as freedom of expression/speech in the U.K., basically if they think your trying to incite hatred of racial or religious kind, then you have crossed your rights.

But, I'd follow dorcas' advice and check with your local police etc. The U.K. is pretty strict.

Edit: I would highly doubt that private property would be free-speech protected.

Jordan

A question for all to ponder.

Did the disciples seek permission from the authorities to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ? Thinking of the likes of Paul and Silas,
or any of the others.
We are told we cannot speak about Christ in so
many places and we simply don't. Are we afraid
of persecution? Should we follow the law of man
or obey the words and example of our Lord?

Just a ?

pastorfrin

Allot of good points raised here. I have got in touch with the Christian Institute as this seems to be the very purpose of their ministry - knowing the laws in the UK in regards to religious freedom.

http://www.christian.org.uk/home.htm

I think calling the Police is a good idea. We can, if needs be make good and effective use of the public walk ways where there will be plenty people traffic to interact with.

In regards to the point about the mock funeral being gimmicky. I'm not sure if you know much about it, as apart from standing there, the rest is verbally pronouncing the gospel, maybe you feel that's gimicky but I'm prepared to agree to disagree. The fact that this guy's (Derek Ancorah's) event is based on a belief in life after death, it seems perfectly logical that this approach is relevant to the listener. There is life after death, just not in the fashion that THEY(being the man's audience) think. The Bible instructs us to be all things to all men and I think that opens up a wide spectrum in order to present the gospel - wether or not the gospel message you present is biblically accurate to bring the knowledge of sin then thats more where the concern would need to be I think.

Anyway, without going down a side track, I've emailed the Christian Institute and I will contact my local Police station. If it was just me, I wouldn't care, but I am responsible for a team of about ten people and I need to be wise and careful for their concerns.

It does raise interesting questions, even if it were illegal would we go ahead? Yes we would, maybe just not with 10 people, maybe only with 4.

I will let you all know how we get on this Wednesday.

I am going to call our local police station.

Thanks again for your input, and we would appreciate your prayers as we go out and share the good news.

My question is - Does the freedom of expression include private property - say like a shopping center of conference hall?

"Don't ask for permission. If you ask we shall have to look into it and may have to say no. Just do it. If you asked by the police to move on, please do so and be polite about it."

I have conducted open airs on this basis every since in the UK. On one occasion a local pub complained that they could hear us in their bars. The complained to the police who sent an officer to ask us to stop. At this time we were on a 'village green' in Birmingham (Moseley, for any who know it). He asked us to stop and I questioned him as to whether what I was doing was against the law. He said he had the right to stop us. I accompanied him to the local police station where the station sergeant said they had no legal powers to stop me preaching, so I returned to the 'village green'. The only response was a cheer from a row of taxi drivers when I returned!

I would say 'go ahead and preach' and see what happens. If you are told you are on private property, I think you should obey the law. If you are on public ground and are asked to stop I would question the officers as to why ancient rights were being eroded.

As regards 'funerals' and confronting 'psychics' like Acorah, the police may well regard that as behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace, but preaching..,? try it.

Thanks for the good post. It's looking unlikey we will do the mock funeral, because of weather, and it's going to be dark - the venue is large enough that they won't 'open the doors', people will get to go in and sit in the auditorium - so mingling with people as they pass by is where we will be.

Our handing out of literature, which I believe we can do, does address life after death, but it doesn't mention the guys name. It does say, can someone love us enough that they can communicate from the other side.

I am going to learn allot from doing this, I know the Lord is with us and he goes before us. On the surface and in the flesh this is a very scary and new experience, but I firmly beleive it was the Lord that placed this on my heart to do. I need to spend time in his presence, because I'm getting scared now : )

He is my Rock and my hiding place.

I found this today after reading an article in a Christian paper

http://www.christian.org.uk/issues/2007/leafleting/freelit_feb07.htm

It shows how legally, in England and wales, how we are allowed to give out Christian literature, it's slightly off topic but I think it's good to know and I didn't want to start a new thread because there's lots of good advice here that we could remind ourselves of

Ste