by Ken Wales … Chair of Together Lancashire and Methodist Action North West
My birthday is May 8 but this year the country seemed more taken aback by the outcome of the general election than the fact I had survived for another twelve months. And perhaps with some justification, for in spite of all the predictions the people had decisively shown their hand. How long their commitment will last will need to be seen, but there is no denying that the government is moving swiftly to implement the mandate it has been given.
This article tries to avoid commenting upon the outcome, either in pleasure or with concern, but rather reflects upon two events I have recently attended where the general election provided the context. Both were ecumenical events with an emphasis on social justice. The first was led by Professor Chris Baker (The University of Chester and The William Temple Foundation), and the second by Lord Maurice Glasman (a Labour peer with a strong interest and background in social cohesion and justice) and Rev. Paul Hackwood (Church Urban Fund). The changing nature of the Welfare State, growing inequality in western countries, and especially our own, and what options might arise following the election for the Church in general and Christians in particular were the focus of these discussions.
In these individuals, and others, at the present time we have some outstanding people helping Church leaders to understand what is happening in our society. There is a growing appreciation of the importance of what social scientists can tell us about our communities and our economy amongst the leaders of the churches. That is not to say that the Church knows little – indeed, in practical terms both now and in the past the churches have been at the forefront of social justice thinking, advocacy and action. Arguably, and to a greater and lesser extent, much of our education, health and social care services have their roots in Christian service. But sometimes it needs people outside the box or outside the moment to help us to understand what is happening. When we allow them to share their thoughts with us then progress might be made.
Of course, education, health, social care, community involvement and politics are all ways in which Christians show their love for God and their neighbour. But many of us now are less sure of how we should respond in an effective way in the places in which we find ourselves. For example, we see increasing need as the policies of austerity bite. We have fears for the well-being of our families and indeed ourselves. We discern ever increasing complexity and an inter-relationship of the needs we encounter in individuals and communities. We hear strident voices telling us that austerity is the road to prosperity and that we need to distinguish between the deserving poor and the rest. Yet we see and read about ever-increasing inequality and little or no evidence that prosperity for some leads to wider wellbeing. We are drawn between serving our neighbours, here and in other countries, or raising the drawbridges to protect our country, our towns and neighbourhoods, our homes and even our churches. Yes, we are confused.
And yet we must be confident and even enervated. For if we are not, we who have the gospel to proclaim, who is there to raise the hope of our communities? So what are some of the characteristics of our society that we might discern in the light of the general election result. Well, we might want to consider these:
- We have as a society become less trustful of the state – the state has forgotten how to treat us as human beings. We are involved in transactions, we are consumers of services and no longer people, individuals, with needs of our own which in in many cases are seen merely as an economic burden to the public purse.
- Partly as a result, a belief in the power of transformative relationships has disappeared. We are at the mercy of forces we cannot understand or even locate
- We have forgotten the power which resides in people and groups – for example even the Church has forgotten the power it has to confront collectively and individually the power of drugs, alcohol, gambling and other destructive forces
- As a society, or as individuals within it, we long for attractive places where we can gather and reclaim our identity in ways and at times which are relevant to our current needs and not just to satisfy our traditions
- We have replaced love, patience and faithfulness with new concepts of welfare, equality, inclusivity and individual rights, entitlements and responsibilities
- We have created two new idols – the state and capitalism – and allowed both to drift out of our control.
I want to suggest four principles which should be amongst those which guide our Christian discipleship in the current age. There may be others, I make no claim to exclusivity.
1. We should be open to all for business and increasingly so. People (every person) should be welcome, comfortable and encouraged when they visit or meet us
2. We should recognise everyone's need for dignity, agency and identity. All we do should be for them and not for us.
3. We should be generous. The amazing generosity shown in support for church ministries and projects, for initiatives such as food-banks, community cafes and job clubs is just the start. We have been richly blessed – let us share those blessings with others.
4. We should be confident in action, thought and prayer. The gospel we have been charged to share is the gospel which overrides all political creeds and principalities. We express it in different ways and at different times but there can be no greater prosperity than helping others to live their lives abundantly.
The Church is an amazing institution. Arguably it is the one institution in the west which has best resisted globalisation and the power of the state. The challenge is ours – don't let love fail.
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