The statement, released by the Council on Social Responsibility of the Methodist Church on Sunday, said that candidates who resort to "petty point-scoring and perpetual fault finding" add to public disillusion and cynicism about politics.
The Council also urged the electorate not to "not to shirk its democratic responsibility, even if voters feel that politicians have.
"We owe it to ourselves to consider who is best to represent us in improving the current situation," the statement continued, "healing divisions and creating a more forward-looking society and to make our voices heard at the ballot box."
The statement encouraged all parties to engage in a "short, focused, positive post-election negotiation phase" so that they are able to get on with making decisions over the budget, Brexit and other political concerns as quickly as possible.
Northern Ireland will go to the polls on 2nd March to elect a new Assembly after Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister earlier this month.