12min @cofe clip on educating for #Dignity and #Respect

 

If you're involved or interested in church school's you may find this 12 min clip useful. 

In it the Bishop of Stockport - Libby Lane - tells Adam's story and goes onto to talk about some christian perspectives on this subject. 

The clip was shot on 4/2/17 at Church House, London at the launch conference of the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership. 

(found via a tweet by Church of England​ )

Bishop Stephen Cottrell on #prayer #justpray

Watch the stories and hear from the people behind the ‪#‎JustPray‬ video on our Youtube channel here: http://bit.ly/1Ogpl2U, including Bishop Stephen:

The #cofe House of #Bishops 52 page letter - 11 tests to use when deciding who to #vote for, the 14 arguments supporting that advice - 6 points about christianity and politics - for the 2015 #UK General #Election

The 52 page Who is my neighbour letter is about how Christian men and women should approach the UK General Election to be held on 7 May 2015.

"we want to move beyond flagging up lists of issues to dig deeper into questions about the trajectory of our political life and visions of the kind of society we want to be and which political life should serve. If anyone claims that this letter is “really” saying “Vote for this party or that party”, they have misunderstood it." (page 4)I have tried to summarise below the main arguments the letter puts forward in terms of

- a better vision built on virtues

- 11 tests to use when deciding who to vote for 

- the 14 arguments supporting that advice

- 6 points about christianity and politics

A better vision built on virtues

The letter is about building a vision of a better kind of world, society and politics. Underlying those ideas is the concept of virtue – what it means to be a good person, politician, neighbour or community.

Virtues are nourished, not by atomised individualism, but in strong communities which relate respectfully to other communities which make up our nation.

Strong communities are schools of virtue. They're where we learn how to be good, how to live well and how to make relationships flourish. They build on the traditions through which each generation learns its national, local and family identity.



11 tests to use when deciding who to vote for

It is the duty of every Christian adult to vote, even though they may have to vote for something that falls short of a vision that inspires them.  And they must work with politicians and others to try and make that vision more inspiring.  Voters are encouraged to support candidates and policies which:

1) Halt and reverse the accumulation of power and wealth in fewer and fewer hands (of the state, corporations or individuals);

2) Involve people at a deeper level in the decisions that affect them most;

3) Recognise the distinctive communities (whether defined by geography, religion or culture) which make up the nation and enable all to thrive and participate together.

4) Treat the electorate as people with roots, commitments and traditions and address us all in terms of the common good and not just as self-interested consumers;

5) Demonstrate that the weak, the dependent, the sick, the aged and the vulnerable are persons of equal value to everybody else. (E.g. Is what they propose on austerity fair?  Do they support a Living Wage sufficient for a full time worker to live decently? );

6) Offer the electorate a grown up debate about Britain’s place in the world order and the possibilities and obligations that entails;

7) Acknowledge the insecurity and anxiety that permeates our society after decades of rapid change, not least the changes brought about by the banking crisis and austerity programme;

8) Recognise people’s need for supportive local communities and that the informal/voluntary sectors hold society together in ways neither the state nor private enterprise can match;

9) Recognise that people need a sense of place and of belonging;

10) Address the culture of regulation and litigation where anxiety about potential litigation can be a brake on local voluntary action;

11) Reflect the obligation to secure the common good of future generations, not just our own, address issues of inter-generational justice, be responsible on environmental issues.




14 arguments put forward to support the voting advice

In arguing for a better vision the letter includes various observations on politics, politicians and our society and culture.  I've summarised the arguments presented below.


Too much power in too few hands is not good

1) Widespread indebtedness is another manifestation of the accumulation of power in too few hands. This is as true for nations as for individuals and families. (From the "Debt and a humane economy" section).  It is perhaps this concentration, and the way some seem to treat politics as an extension of consumerism  - which has contributed to so much apathy about politics and politicians (from the "Apathy, cynicism and politics today" section)



The choices we face are rarely as simple as politics suggests they are

2) State or free market - Politicians seem to either place excessive faith in state intervention on the one hand or the free market on the other, (from the "Visions worth voting for" section)

3) “Us” and "them" rhetoric - stirs up resentment by dehumanising or demonising "them". Ethnic minorities, immigrants, welfare claimants, bankers and oligarchs – all have been called up as threats to some fictitious “us”. (From the "Equality – us and them" section)

4) Neighbourliness is both what we do for others and are willing to receive from them - So being willing to receive from those we fear, ignore or despise. The way we talk about migration, with ethnically identifiable communities being treated as “the problem” has, deliberately or inadvertently, created an ugly undercurrent of racism in every debate about immigration. Crude stereotyping is incompatible with a Christian understanding of human social relationships. But we also challenge the assumption that to question immigration at all must always be racist. (From the "Power, identities and minorities" section)

5) Right or left - Its not a choice between “right” and “left” nor do we imagine truth lie equidistant between extremes.  The letter emphasises an approach to politics which can trace its roots on both left and right and which could be embraced by any of the mainstream parties without being untrue to their own histories. (from the "Beyond “Left” and “Right” " section)

6) Agree or don't work together - Its wrong to think people can only work together if they agree about every issue.  The ability to make, and break, alliances – so that people can work together on issues they share, but may not be on the same side on other issues – is what makes the voluntary sector generally, so crucial to a flourishing democratic society (From the "Disagreement, Diversity and Coalitions" section)

7) National or local approaches - Sometimes we work best as a nation & sometimes as members of smaller and more local groups.  A sense of “place” helps to form people’s identity in community. People cannot so easily be uncoupled from the geographical spaces they inhabit. (From the "A Community of Communities" section)

8) A thriving society needs intermediate institutions (bigger than the family, far smaller than the state).  These informal/independent structures are small enough not to need every activity to be codified.  So they can help people to learn to work together in trust, not just according to rules. Such bodies can disagree with each other and pursue incompatible goals. A culture in good order needs that kind of diversity and capacity to argue about what makes a good society. (From the "Strengthening institutions" section)



None of us can stand alone

9) We prize individualism and autonomy yet a society of strangers is a vision few of us want. Instead most of us still find numerous ways of being with other people – at work, by volunteering, through religious services or sports or other interests.  Each of these have their own customs and shared solidarities and ways of identifying with each other.  Without them our lives would be extraordinarily fragile and lonely. (from "A Society of Strangers?" section)

10) To be dependent on others is what makes us social creatures.  In understanding the balance between the individual and the community we need to move beyond the superficial.  (from "The Person in Community" section)

11) No nation can stand alone - Its an illusion to think a nation can flourish without strong international alliances.  Our reliance on world trade demonstrates how intertwined our national economy is with other nations. People and nations are divided, not just by military conflict but by grotesque inequalities of wealth and power. The accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a few nations has a profoundly destabilising effect. Supporting developing nations without creating unhealthy dependencies is politically challenging and yet absolutely necessary (From "The community of nations" section) 



Community, involvement and the long term

12) Living as part of a community and depending on others  - shows us the moral limits of the market.   This kind of community does not even need to rely on personal acquaintance, only on a perception of mutual reliance. In the maritime industry, shipping companies compete against each other in an open market. But when a ship is in trouble, it is unthinkable that other ships in the vicinity will not go to its assistance, at considerable commercial cost.  Those who make their living on the sea know their need of each other. For the rest of us, our mutual dependence is no less real, but is often obscured from our sight until troubles arise.(From the "Debt and a humane economy" section)

13) A good constitution involves as many people as possible in decisions  - even if like the UK's it is largely unwritten and has evolved over the centuries. (From the "History in an old country" section)

14) People will commit to the long term if they have a stake in it - A thriving economy needs investors who look to the long term. Intergenerational justice depends upon sharing power and decision making now. By enabling people to build a stake in the communities they are encouraged to live, not only for the day, but for their grandchildren’s future – and, on behalf of future generations, to cherish the created order rather than viewing our environment as a commodity to be consumed. (From the "Our grandchildren’s future" section)

6 points about Christianity and politics

1) Religion is not just something that belongs solely to the private sphere. Belief - of its nature - addresses the whole of life, private and public. (page 5)

2) Without a grasp of the power and meaning of religion, it is impossible to understand the dynamics of global politics today. (page 6)

3) Christians are called to love their neighbour as themselves and in the Lord's prayer say “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven”. This incarnational faith is why politics and the life of the Christian cannot be separated. (page 7)

4) As individuals christians start with an acknowledgement that all is not well, that what is good and right has been neglected and that change is inescapable. (page 8)

5) The Biblical tradition is not only “biased to the poor”, but warns constantly against too much power falling into too few hands. (page 9)

6) Christian theology behoves all people to “think it possible that you may be mistaken” – to use the words of Oliver Cromwell. (page 10)

Why your #CofE Church #APCM this or next month is more important than usual

Summary

Those elected as your church's representatives at Deanery Synod will elect Lay people to a new General Synod next year.

Those lay people may still have to vote on whether we have women bishops (if not passed by the current General Synod) and in future years they will probably have to vote on issues such as: how the church needs to focus on numerical growth;  homosexuality; the church's role in speaking for the poor and weak and thus sometimes challenging the rich and powerful.  

So it is important you know what the views of your Deanery Synod reps are on such issues before your Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) this or next month.  That's because at the APCM you'll be voting such people into the rep roles AND next year they'll be voting in who the lay reps are on the General Synod (which decides the church's position on such issues). 

OR as a minimum its important you ask such reps what criteria will be important to them in deciding which General Synod lay reps to vote for next year.

The suggestions below are one approach to these issues.  Plainly in whatever approach you choose to take you also need to consider how to hear and take action on Justin Welby's last presidential address to General Synod - one extract from which is...

"if we are to live out a commitment to the flourishing of every tradition of the church there is going to have to be a massive cultural change that accepts that people with whom I differ deeply are also deeply loved by Christ and therefore must be deeply loved by me and love means seeking their flourishing" 



Introduction

Every year each CoE church should hold an APCM.

Often these involve the election of various folk to the Parochial Church Council (PCC).

Sadly attendance at these APCM can often be lower in numbers than those in a Sunday's congregation.

At this years APCM it is likely that some people from your church will also be elected to be lay representatives on the Deanery Synod.



So what is so important about Deanery Synod Reps?

In 2015 members of the Deanery Synod will elect people to be on the General Synod's House of Laity for the next 5 years.

During that 5 years it is possible that General Synod may have to vote on issues like:

a) Women Bishops (only if the current actions to agree to them are not passed - note the issue is certainly not settled yet);

b) How the church speaks for the poor and weak and so sometimes will challenge the rich and powerful;

c) Homosexuality;

d) A focus on leaders & activities that lead to numerical growth (see this post for more info).


So why is all this important?  

Because in November 2012 the measure to OK women bishops was not passed as it did not achieve the necessary majority in the House of Laity.  This was despite:

a) the required majority of General Synod's Bishops and Clergy supporting women bishops;

b) the majority of Diocese synods also supporting Women Bishops.


Whether you agree with women bishops or don't - the above lesson from recent history demonstrates the importance of how members of the House of Laity vote.


What can I do?

So what can you do as somebody on the Electoral Roll of your local church?

1) Ask your churchwardens how - preferably before the APCM - there will be a discussion on the Deanery Synod reps views on the above or other subjects important to you OR as a minimum how you may ask the Deanery synod reps what criteria will be important to them in deciding which General Synod lay reps to vote for next year.

2) Consider standing yourself to be such a representative.

3) Ponder whether the above approach is enough as a Christian.  To prompt your thoughts it might be worth reading Justin Welby's appeal for us to act in a way where we commit to the flourishing of those we disagree with as they are also loved by Christ.



Useful background reading (some of these are from a particular stance on the issues above)

CofE pamphlet on 2014 elections to Deanery Synod

An intro to General Synod

Reform's website - and their views and reasoning on a  variety of issues

Inclusive Church's Deanery Election Campaign Pack

Better Prepared - Women & the church

no. of people per bishop - in england

since before the cofe

and the data since 1870 blown up a bit

c of e bishop numbers data sourced from crockford's clerical directory
and population data sourced from wikipedia

with thanks to sam norton for the suggestion

no. of bishops in c of e - in england

see also the other post with a bishop label for the likely explanation in the growth


since before the cofe

and the data since 1870 blown up a bit

c of e bishop data sourced from crockford's clerical directory

anglican patrimony, women bishops & disagreement

this is a link to bishop stephen's (cofe  - chelmsford uk) recent address which touched on patrimony in the context of a synod vote on women bishops and what our response to disagreement should be


(found via phil's treehouse)


(picture from chelmsford diocese site)