The Australian Christian Lobby will host a pre-election panel and webcast of a different kind this year, with Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott appearing in three minute addresses. This year, the bulk of the  webcast will feature a “panel of experts” including Rev Dr Keith Garner, Superintendent of Wesley Mission, Hon John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Robert McClelland, former Attorney-General, Dr Megan Best, bioethicist and Dr Justine Toh from Centre for Public Christianity.

Since 2007, ACL has hosted a ‘Make It Count’ event prior to the federal election. In the past they invited the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to take part in a live webcast and answering questions from church leaders on issues considered important to the Christian constituency. This year the leaders will only be speaking in their three-minute slots. A previous version of this story said they would not be appearing at all. Eternity apologises for the error.

Lyle Shelton, ACL’s Managing Director said it will be the first time the ACL has used a panel event during an election, and was “confident it would provide essential information for Christians in helping them decide how to vote.”

Panel member Keith Garner from Wesley Mission says Christians should consider how to make their vote count by examining all policies and issues with the same yardstick: God’s word and God’s love.

“We all have an obligation to make our vote count…As Christians we have an obligation to be salt and light in the world and to take every thought ‘captive to the Gospel’. In other words, to think and wrestle with the issues of the day and to bring them under the authority and grace of God.”

The ‘Make it Count’ event will cover discussion on issues including refugees, gambling, poverty, sexualisation of society, family and marriage, religious freedom and life issues. But Justine Toh from Centre For Public Christianity says there’s Christians in Australia won’t necessarily vote the same way on these issues.

“I don’t think there is a Christian vote in Australia,” she told Eternity. “Though I would like to believe that whichever way Christians vote, they would vote with the most vulnerable members of our society in mind.”

Dr Garner says Christians are motivated by both their faith and their worldview when it comes to voting.

“A person’s vote is shaped by a person’s upbringing, life experience, their Christian journey and the interface with the current political context. Some people will place emphasis on one issue over another. As a result we have a selective gospel that leads to a selective grace and therefore selective repentance.

“God calls us to a whole Gospel for the whole world. If God brings about a total change, there is no area of life upon which this change cannot impact or bring about inner-transformation.  Similarly, there is no area of life for which we cannot feel a passion and engagement. The thought that ‘the old has gone, the new has come’ says reconciliation with God brings about a radical change of allegiance.  Our new life in Christ is now the overriding characteristic of all we are and all we do.

“In past generations when denominationalism was stronger, a ‘Christian vote’ had a social and cultural element. There was a strong party loyalty to issues supported by the Catholic Church, the Anglican and other Protestant churches. That loyalty has dissipated and has been replaced by a much looser affiliation but too often limited to issues of private morality. In God’s eyes there is no disconnect between private and public. All of life is under his authority. “

Preparing for a federal election is a “daunting” experience for Dr Toh, as she suspects it is for many around the country. But if there was one thing she would say all Christians should be aware of come polling day, it’s this:

“The knowledge that whatever party we elect to govern is made up of fallible people who need prayer—probably more if the party you don’t want gets in.”

The Make it Count 2013 election webcast will be streamed live to churches around the nation on Monday 2 September. To find out more, click here.