“Some see religion as a problem that needs to be solved, the new Government sees it as part of the solution” Eric Pickles, Communities Secretary
More than 200 million hours a year is given by evangelical Christians to voluntary work that’s worth more than a billion pounds to our communities
“A great opportunity to show society what Christians are all about, bringing spiritual and social transformation to our neighbourhoods” Steve Clifford, General Director, Evangelical Alliance
The Evangelical Alliance and the Big Society
The Evangelical Alliance and the Big Society
A big vision for the Big Society We are united by our vision and by our actions. The Alliance has a big vision for Christians to take the lead in the Big Society - a vision where biblical values of justice and compassion become, once again, part of the fabric of society. Evangelicals already contribute an average of two hours a week volunteering in their local communities – that adds up to a massive 200 million hours or £1.2 billion a year. We are in a tremendously strong position to bring Christian influence to bear in the Big Society. With God’s leading, the Alliance is already encouraging initiatives by evangelicals that are a part of this vision. Together we can help to make it happen.
A vision for the Big Society in our
COMMUNITIES Debt ruins lives and destroys families. These are difficult times and personal debt is now a major problem for many people. Our Life Beyond Debt campaign brings biblical values on money, poverty and injustice to bear in the Big Society, empowering the Church to respond compassionately to those in need.
The Church is a key player in making the Big Society work. That’s how the Government sees us. Square Mile energises and equips the Church for mission in our local communities: compassion for the poor; being salt and light to those around us; living and working together as neighbours; and communicating the good news of Jesus Christ.
Like it or not, the Big Society has been influenced by our economic situation. As the recession bites, instinct tells us to hold tight to every penny we’ve got - but Jesus challenged us to think first of the needs of others. Simplify calls us all to look at the spiritual hold money has on us personally, and to come alongside our neighbours who have been hit hard by redundancy, debt or misfortune.
The Big Society is about helping those most vulnerable or at risk in our communities, yet the Church has being doing that for 2000 years. Don’t be a Stranger focuses on the way we treat migrants in the UK. It gathers together the resources, people and expertise that the Church needs so that we can be Christ to those who are strangers in our communities.
A vision for the Big Society in
GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDIA The Alliance gives a voice to Christians
in the Parliaments and Assemblies We should all be as much a part of politics as we are social action or evangelism. The Alliance meets regularly with politicians, standing for a Church that has a major role to play in the Big Society: We work to ensure that Christians can work without hindrance in all areas of public life as we put our vision into action.
The Alliance gives a voice to Christians in the media We want Christians to be heard, to influence attitudes and transform the views of society. The Alliance has the ear of national and local media, Christian and mainstream, communicating the good news of Jesus Christ positively and constructively.
The Alliance gives a voice to Christians in our culture From politics to the arts, the Alliance contributes the Christian perspective to influential areas of our culture, with an incredible potential for the social change at the heart of the Big Society. Forum for Change mobilises the Church to take the lead in education, politics, the media and the arts, business, sports and the professions.
A vision for the Big Society in The Church has always been at the heart of our communities. Gweini encourages Christians in Wales to become a really effective part of the Big Society, connecting the church to the voluntary sector. Feeding the poor and hungry, or reaching people on the edges of our communities is one of the ways that Gweini is putting Christian love into action. In Ebbw Vale, Adrian Curtis of Festival Church has set up 11 Foodbanks in partnership with the Trussel Trust. Foodbanks are a simple, effective way for churches to deliver social action - and raise their profile in the community - by providing food and support to people in crisis. As people collect the boxes, staff also take time with them to be the face of Jesus to those in need.
ACTION
GWEINI Serving the Christian Voluntary Sector in Wales
A vision for the Big Society ACROSS GENERATIONS
Just Generations equips and encourages young people to tackle physical and spiritual poverty, stand for what is right and preach the Good News both through words and actions. It works through conferences and hubs across the country, actively sparking change in our communities and establishing Christian values in the Big Society.
A vision of the Big Society in
HISTORY
History is peppered with Christians who led the way on social action; names like Lord Shaftsbury or William Wilberforce spring to mind. The Church was contributing massively to society long before the idea of the Big Society was adopted by government. Right now, the Evangelical Alliance has a God given opportunity to once again get the voice of Christians heard by government, television, radio and the press, to remove the roadblocks that hinder the gospel, and to encourage, equip and empower the Church to take the lead in the Big Society.
HOW WE’RE HELPING TO MAKE THIS VISION A REALITY…
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Trafford is probably best known as the home of Manchester United… but it was doing big society way before any Government announcements. The churches of our borough provide thousands of hours of volunteer support to hundreds of projects, they employ more youth workers and have more buildings and reach more kids than the local authority. Faith groups alone account for half of the voluntary projects in the local community. Yes, big society has been going on for decades in Trafford where I’ve been Pastor of a socially active church community for 12 years. When I arrived, I discovered not only a huge gap between the professionals and local volunteers, but also a serious lack of faith literacy. Since then we’ve taken the lead on the Big Society initiatives in our borough. Faith groups - churches in particular - are viewed in a very positive light. Now is the time for Christians to take a leading place in civic life, giving life to our vision of unity under Christ. The thing I like about the Big Society is its call to this joint vision for our lives, where each of us is taking our responsibility for our area and our borough. Yet this has always been our vision for Trafford, a partnership between state and individual, local government and local voluntary group. The local community needs the borough - its resources, expertise and accountability but the borough needs the local community - its heart, knowledge and focus. The role of the Church is to witness to the coming Kingdom, to set the pace in partnership working, to prioritise those who are most vulnerable, to work against injustice and to work for a society that is healthier, happier and more peaceful. When people begin to see this happen they will take notice of the people who live and speak this message and their God who leads them to love the world.
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Rev Roger Sutton is the director of Network EA Manchester and ambassador for the Evangelical Alliance across the North of England.
GETTING INVOLVED…
The Evangelical Alliance is working to bring Christian values to the Big Society, to preserve the massive The message of Jesus Christ to us is quite clear in contribution that Christians already make to society Matthew chapter 25: Then the King will say to those and to ensure that expression of the gospel in this on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; way is not hindered. take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and Join us in helping to empower the you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you Church as it transforms our local gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you communities. invited me in… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for Please call our membership team, or one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, make a donation, on 020 7207 2100. you did for me’. Evangelical Alliance, FREEPOST LON9560,186 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4ZX Tel: 020 7207 2100 | Fax 020 7207 2150 | Email: info@eauk.org | Website: www.eauk.org A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales No. 123448. Registered Charity No England and Wales: 212325, Scotland: SC040576.