Ldcf magazine 2017 18 final (low res) by Liberal Democrat Christian Forum

2017-2018

BUILDING Community SAL BRINTON SHARES WHAT BUILDING COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE

PLANTING SEEDS TIMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S UP FOR TOLERANCE THE POWER OF PRAYER

NOTE FROM

the Editor Mia Hadfield-Spoor, Executive member of LDCF

’ve heard it said on more than one occasion in the last 12 months that promoting ‘tolerance’ is not enough, we need to promote ‘respect’ as a principle instead.

At a time when society appears to be seeing increasing intolerance of different beliefs, faiths, and opinions, the idea of promoting respect instead provides a fresh light for thinking about our broader approach to building relationships and unity in our local communities, around the country and across the world. Respect is underpinned by understanding and actioned through love. When reflecting on the many divisions that appear to be opening up across society we feel compelled to address what can be done to build bridges and solidarity within and among communities. This magazine looks at how we can build community through conversation and action within the Party, in our churches and communities.

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

The following pages consider: ì How can Jesus’ teachings and example enable us to build community cohesion? ì What is the role of the Holy Spirit in building a more loving, compassionate, cooperative society? ì How do and could we share God’s love with the wider community? We are so thankful for everyone who has submitted contributions to this magazine, who have helped to share valuable experience and insight around building community. We hope this magazine will be challenging and inspiring for us all as individuals, Christians, and LDCF members. “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” Romans 12:17

LDCF: ABOUT US LDCF is a Christian voice in the Party and a voice of liberal democracy amongst Christians. We do this by: Speaking out about issues of injustice to impact policy and create change. Acting as a bridge between the Christian community and the Party through relationship-building and encouraging both communities to connect and work together. Inspiring Christians to become more politically engaged, to see politics as mission and a way of seeking justice for their community and nation. Underpinning all that we do with prayer, and praying regularly for our government and nation.

AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU BUT TO DO JUSTICE, AND TO LOVE KINDNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD

Micah 6:8

You can join us in this vision, by attending our prayer meetings, becoming a member or making a donation - www.ldcf.org

CONTENTS A message from the Director

BUILDING COMMUNITY Building community by Sal Brinton

Planting seeds by Paul Gutteridge

Time’s up for Tolerance by Lucy Salek

COMMUNITY Unity in our local communities by Peter Taylor

Unity in our nation by Jenny Sinclair

Unity in our world by Helen Harrison

COMMUNITY STORIES Christians in Politics by Pat Finlow

Your stories

Premier

PRAYER Power of Prayer by Stephen Lloyd

Let’s pray

Chair’s final thoughts by Lizzie Jewkes

A MESSAGE FROM the Director Sarah Latham, Director of LDCF

fter my whirlwind of a first year as Director of LDCF, it seems my second year in the role hasn’t been much different! We’ve had local elections; Donald Trump elected as President; a snap General Election ending with a rather unexpected result and we’ve begun the process of leaving the EU. We’ve also said farewell to our own Party Leader, Tim Farron and welcomed a new one, Vince Cable. We are sad to see Tim go – he has revived the Party since the 2015 election, increased membership dramatically and helped us gain council and parliamentary seats across the country. But his departure as Leader is certainly not his departure from politics. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with him as an MP. In his resignation speech, Tim explained he felt he couldn’t continue in his role as a political leader whilst living as a committed Christian, feeling guilty that the focus was constantly on his faith not his Party’s policies.

to be inside the political world alongside people of all faiths and none fighting for change not retreating to the side-lines. Now, perhaps more than ever, the need for LDCF to be at the heart of our political system is evident. I’ve never been more convinced that our community of Christians passionate about creating a truly equal, just and free society are a vital part of the journey to a liberal society. So, thank you for all you give to our community. We look forward to journeying with you over the next year! But, for now, grab yourself a cuppa and enjoy reading our 2017/18 magazine.

There have been numerous interpretations and commentaries on Tim’s speech. But, to me, what’s clear is that there is a desperate need for a liberal society where people of all faiths and none are welcomed into public life and considered equal. To make this happen, I am certain that Christians need 03

BUILDING Community

ne of my favourite things about being Baroness Brinton shares President of the Liberal Democrats is that her reflection on the biblical I have the opportunity to travel all around example for community as the country, meeting Lib Dem members well as the centrality of and local people. My brief glimpses into different community to liberalism communities has given me a huge appreciation of the value of community and the wonderfully diverse ways community manifests itself. As I reflect on their similarities and differences, their needs and the strengths, I am reminded of the biblical foundation for community. Community was never just a nice afterthought, it is a vital part of the world God intended. We are made to live in relationship with others – learning from one another, caring for one another, laughing together and crying together.

The perfect example we have for how to build and maintain relationships is, of course, Jesus himself. Jesus loved unconditionally, he cared wholeheartedly and lived his life serving others. He didn’t just ‘do’ his relationships on his terms either, he stripped away any self-interest and, with inspiring humility, always sought to put others first. In Acts, we see how the apostles follow the example Jesus sets for how to relate as they build the first Church communities. The early Church did life together just as Jesus did with his disciples – they ate together, worshiped together and shared all they own. I’m not necessarily suggesting we suddenly decide to share all we own with our neighbours but the community of the 04

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Relationships are at the core of community. Politicians and academics can easily get caught up thinking about community structures, models and theories. Whilst they are important they are not the be-all and end-all in building community. It’s all about relationships.

THE EARLY CHURCH SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN BUILT ON A BASE OF SELFLESSNESS, AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EQUALITY early Church seems to have been built on a base of selflessness, authentic relationships and equality. This, we can take inspiration from. If our societies are made up of communities based on selflessness, authentic relationships and equality, I am sure we would begin to see society transformed. We are told community is good for our mental health, our enjoyment of life and our sense of belonging. If communities are strengthened and more people get to know each other, perhaps we’d also see a reduction in the levels of discrimination, abuse and aggressive disagreement. As a Christian, building and being part of community is something I consider an important part of my walk with God. As a liberal, this same passion for community is an important part of my political journey. The very first sentence of the preamble to the Liberal Democrats’ constitution – the bit that explains what we stand for – says: “The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.” (Emphasis mine) We see community as a crucial part of building a liberal society and we believe liberal communities are based on the

principles of freedom and equality. They are places where people have freedom of conscience and a freedom to develop their talents to the full; where all people enjoy equal rights and entrenched privilege and inequality are no more. For me, as a Christian Lib Dem, I believe in faith in action. Indeed, the Greek word for faith that’s used in the gospels, ‘Pistis’, has been described as very different from our traditional view of the noun we see and read in English. It implies action – ‘go and do likewise’ Jesus said, after telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. So, as Christians and as liberals we are ‘community builders’. In a country where division is rife and inequality deep, community that prevails over and celebrates differences is so needed. The time is certainly right to be investing in our communities in whatever small way we can. On my travels around the country I have seen the blessing that community is to many people who would otherwise battle through challenges alone. With selflessness, authenticity and equality in mind, let’s help build and strengthen communities that are a blessing to even more.

Sal Brinton is the President of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum as well as President of the Liberal Democrats. She is also a Member of the House of Lords. Sal lives in Watford with her husband, Tim, where they are active members of St Luke’s Church. 05

PLANTING

Seeds I

t was a few days after the 7/7 terror attack that claimed the lives of over 50 people and devastated so many others. As a Church leader involved with community engagement I was expecting a call from the local paper as I used to write some ‘thought pieces’ for them. In an act of pre-emption, I picked up the phone and called the local Mosque… Over the years I have been involved with building community in various guises in the UK and abroad as a person of faith – the Christian faith. The desire to see the changes that build community can lead to short termism – totally understandable in the face of difficulty, obvious or hidden. However, as I ponder the history of change and particularly the biblical narrative – there is a ‘suddenly’ of change but usually after a longer period of transformation. The Bible speaks of God being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – a generational God, working through people, institutions and time throughout the changes that build community.

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Paul Gutteridge shares some of the lessons he’s learned about how the Holy Spirit works through us to build communities

What we see through all the Biblical examples of community being built is that the process of building community is likely to require us to be peace makers, not just peace keepers. Making peace requires that we enter that which is broken, not that we can fix it all, but rather that we are present and available for the Holy Spirit to work through us. Sounds great on paper but, for the changes to happen we often need to confront our own lack. Embracing my own lack after 7/7 changed my approach to seeing the presence of the Holy Spirit in building community. Lack presented itself in two ways – mindset and skill. The skills needed can often be the easier of the two to develop. Mindset change, harder. What did I really believe about how the Holy Spirit would work in building community? Were my models of change honest and useful in the community we were serving as a Church? Getting answers to these questions gave me ways of thinking that had very practical implications.

As I walked down to the Mosque to meet the Imam I felt better placed to dialogue. Two faith leaders, not seeking to convert each other but intent on listening, learning. There were fears of misrepresentation in the community, in the media. But, strangely enough the criticism I faced was from some parts of the broader Church who seemed to have a different agenda – to score points? Our theological positions were different but we agreed that showing others how to live peacefully with difference is good for society. I left the mosque with an invitation to visit whenever I wanted and the knowledge that community can be built where there is difference. Lesson number one: the Holy Spirit builds community by planting seeds, planting trees, not scoring points. Peace makers sow in peace and trust God for the outcome. The truth is that we may never see the tree grow in our lifetime but we know it will.

-F

TH ED

FA I

ILL

-B

I FA

This cracked the dam and my thirst led me to some practical models I gleaned from the Bible. I noticed three (very Trinitarian) ways that the Holy Spirit may move through followers of Christ. These formed one of the core models that has shaped how I approach building community – in any sphere of life. This model helped explain how I can build community in a liberal society whilst embracing my Christian faith. Along each side of the triangle were three phrases: faithful (at the base), faith-based and faith-filled, on respective sides.

FAITHFUL In our professional lives, we are called to be faithful. Good employees, trustworthy and the like. However, there are times where our behaviour may stir someone to ask why we behaved (or not) in such a way (assuming it is

THE HOLY SPIRIT BUILDS COMMUNITY BY PLANTING SEEDS, PLANTING TREES, NOT SCORING POINTS positive). In response to a question we give an answer. This could be because of our faith – faith-based. We may be doing a specific project that is clearly faith-based – we speak from that place. There are other times when those who ask us questions may ask further questions, and when the context is right we can be faithfilled. In other words, this may be a moment for a more personal experience of what we believe. It may be a crude model but it has given me a way of navigating work, relationships, community building in a way that is respectful of others and the freedom to honour my faith. Since 7/7 I have worked with Churches, businesses, charities and political types all over the world, helping to set up or shape community initiatives. Sometimes I have seen changes as those faith-filled moments arise and other times I have been planting trees, being faithful in building community – one person at a time. How does the Holy Spirit build community? By anointing us to plant trees, make peace and using us as faithful, faith-based and faithfilled servants in a world where we want to encourage the peaceful expression of everyone to live out their beliefs. After all, peacemakers who sow in peace will reap a harvest.

Paul is married to Lis and has two grown up boys. He has been involved with faith-based community initiatives for 20 years and led a Church until five years ago. Paul now divides his time between working in Public Affairs for the Free Churches Group and running his own consultancy using behaviour analysis, helping people to read and understand others in business, politics and the security world.

TIME’S UP

for Tolerance Lucy Salek reflects on where tolerance sits in the relationship between religious communities and public life

While this is a fascinating insight into the current debates over whether the Chinese Government has a say on the next identity of the Dalai Lama, I felt it also offered an insight to the issues facing the relationships between people of different faiths and between the secular approach to public life and religious communities here in the UK. I ask myself – am I right in feeling that the attitude towards religious life in the UK is shaped by a secular belief that to have faith in God also means that you are irrational? Within the Liberal Democrats we have placed a great deal of emphasis on tolerance as our approach to difference, including difference of belief. The unintended consequences of this has been problems for both sides – for those who work against harmful practices, tolerance became a dirty word because of the implication that such practices or illiberal views are therefore also tolerated if they are in the name of religious or cultural difference. There is no doubt that the demand for ‘tolerance’ has been used by some to justify the unjustifiable. On

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

ess than a year ago I was listening to a programme discussing the whether the Dalai Lama will reincarnate. Ever interested in how the theological intersects with the political, the comment made in the programme that has resonated with me over time was that the Chinese Government approaches Tibet with “an unquestioning idea that Tibetans are often religious, and are therefore not susceptible to rational arguments about how wonderful communism is, and so you have to persuade them through religion” (emphasis mine).

PERHAPS THE TIME IS NOW UP FOR ‘TOLERANCE’ AS A USEFUL APPROACH TO DIFFERENCE. IT HAS GOT US THIS FAR, BUT IS CLEARLY NOT UP TO THE TASK IN BUILDING COMMUNITIES BETWEEN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES the other side, for religious communities, being ‘tolerated’ quickly descends into being simply ignored and, not infrequently, patronised. Where secularism comes with the implication that people of faith are not ‘rational’, the opportunity for genuine understanding is stilted and lost. So where do we go from here? Now there is such a greater overlap between the UK’s religious communities and BAME communities, the question of how we approach freedom of religion, conscience, belief, speech and expression has become tied up with questions of politics, culture and even British identity. For the British Muslim community these questions are now the backdrop to our everyday lives. These questions cannot wait. While on the surface they may appear to be about cultural difference, they are about broader questions on the position of faith in community life, and what the secular actually looks like. Those are questions that need to be answered together, not in isolated groups. Buzzwords, like ideologies, have their day in the sun. They begin with upbeat freshness and, as the multitude of understandings and interpretations take hold, they lose their flavour. So perhaps that the time is now up for ‘tolerance’ as a useful approach to difference. It has got

us this far, but is clearly not up to the task in building communities between diverse communities. It is time to move on. Speaking to those who have distaste for the ‘tolerant’ approach those that do not want to ‘be tolerant’ demand that harmful and illiberal views must be questioned, and those that ‘are tolerated’ are not against discussion, but want to have that discussion while being treated with respect, not disdain. I do not have the ideal alternative framework to offer, but I do know that respect must be part of it. As liberals we should be well practiced in the respectful discussion of difficult differences. Looking at the public conversations we see around us today, I think we can all agree that we could do with more respectful discussion in our political culture. In moving beyond merely tolerating each other towards engaging and challenging, while respecting each other, we can start to do just that.

Lucy is leading the development of the Lib Dem Muslim Network. She was also a Parliamentary Candidate in 2017. For over 10 years Lucy has worked in worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, working with communities, including faith communities, building peace. 09 9

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UNITY IN

our Local Communities

atford Constituency is a bellwether seat. In every general election since February 1974 we have elected an MP from the largest party in the House of Commons, with Sal Brinton coming a very close second for our party in both 2005 and 2010.

Peter Taylor takes us to his local community, Watford, to show us how people are uniting across differences

The town is in many ways a microcosm of the country, with a great deal of social, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. 62% of Watford residents are ‘White British’. There is a significant number of Pakistani Muslim families, as well as a growing Afro-Caribbean presence and the arrival of many Eastern European residents in the last few years. In the 2016 EU referendum, we saw Watford’s once again mirror the national picture with a very narrow victory for the Leave campaign, who gained 50.3% of the vote. Since 2002, Watford has had a Liberal Democrat run-council and a directly-elected Liberal Democrat Mayor, Dorothy Thornhill. We have always been very clear that our role is to make sure that Watford’s many communities come together and all feel that they are part of our town. To do this we have invested in community events, supported our faith groups and worked with them in partnership to tackle problems such as homelessness. Building a strong Watford community has remained a priority and we have made sure that this work hasn’t suffered, even when central government has cut our funding. After 16 years as mayor, Dorothy will be standing down next year. I am hugely honoured to have been chosen by Watford’s Liberal Democrat members to be our candidate in 2018. Watford enjoys a vibrant, caring and strong community. This has not happened by chance. Bringing communities together - to celebrate both our diversity and the many

things that we share - is central to the Liberal Democrat philosophy. It is also an outlook that is shared by so many active members of faith communities. That might be one of the reasons that when I attend my local church on a Sunday morning I see so many supporters, deliverers and people willing to display a poster for us!

Peter is an LDCF Member and lives in Watford with his wife and three children. He is a Watford Borough Councillor and works for the Catholic Education Service. He is also (excitingly!) the Liberal Democrat candidate in Watford’s mayoral election in 2018 where he hopes to succeed Liberal Democrat, Dorothy Thornhill. You can sign up to help Peter in his campaign here: www.watfordlibdems.org/volunteer 11

UNITY IN

Our Nation

o many people didn’t see Brexit and Trump coming. Some are still unclear about what happened. Yet the causes have been building for years. Both were symptoms of a broken body. How and why have these divisions and estrangements in our democracy come about? When people from proud, inherited cultures experience humiliation and powerlessness they will eventually react. So when the Brexit referendum gave them a rare opportunity to be heard, people took it, even if they knew that the campaign was deeply flawed. They were tired of being offered no more than a choice between being a few pounds better or worse off. What was benefitting the global establishment never reached their door. Successive politicians’ rhetoric of “opportunity” never rang true for them. Their infrastructure had fallen into a state of degradation and the dignity that work can offer was fast becoming a memory. They had lost patience as social norms were changed without their consent and many of the things that really mattered to them seemed to have become devalued. They felt exiled in their own country. The pollsters missed much of what was happening, because this “basket of deplorables” (as Hillary Clinton dismissively referred to them) had been shamed into hiding their views.

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Jenny Sinclair reflects on the division in our nation and how we, the Church, can be a blessing to our national community through healing division

Now that the fragmented, unequal and divided reality has been laid bare, what can be done to rebuild the broken body? The Beatitudes teach that the “poor in spirit” are blessed. The Church does its best to honour this. But have some of us in the Church been swept along and, inadvertently, focused on the interests of the destitute or of refugees or migrants or other minority groups, while overlooking the interests of the struggling working class families in our country, our own neighbourhoods? We must look closer at the relationship between the Church and “the poor”. Faith in the City, the Church of England report published in 1985 in which my father, David Sheppard, the Anglican bishop of Liverpool, was closely involved, focused on “communities of the left behind”. It reminded us that “Poverty is not only about shortage of money. It is about relationships; about how people are treated and how they regard themselves; about powerlessness, exclusion and loss of dignity.” We hear a lot in the churches

REBUILDING THE BROKEN BODY INVOLVES LISTENING AND HUMILITY; IT IS NOT A MATTER OF PERSUASION BUT OF ENCOUNTER about giving “a voice to the voiceless”; rather less about the unglamorous task of sitting down together and patiently building a common life. The poor don’t always appear to be “respectable” or “deserving”. Their traditions, opinions and cultures may cut across what many in the liberal mainstream are comfortable with. But the Church should be ready to embrace everyone who is poor. If we rank their poverty we risk impoverishing ourselves. The principle of the common good recognises all the groups who experience non-power – ethnic, economic and social, excluding none. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and. Rowan Williams has said that whenever we meet another person we are on sacred ground. Jean Vanier understands that to be fully human, we need to be in a relationship with those the dominant culture rejects, no matter how difficult that may be. Our task, as people of the Church, is to step outside of the echo chamber, to leave the comfort zone of like-minded friends. All of us in our country are “members one of another”. Rebuilding the broken body involves listening and humility; it is not a matter of persuasion but of encounter, for it is only in meeting that transformation can take place. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul says we should “Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body.” He is

calling for the unity and reconciliation of the whole of creation through the agency of the Church. This challenge brings the potential for the healing of our fragmented society into convergence with the Church’s mission. This moment of political turmoil is an opportunity. The old orthodoxies of left and right have been in decline for some time. A new settlement is being formed, and, if it is not founded on relationships between groups currently so estranged, our democracy will remain in crisis. The Church, with its social teachings, could be a blessing to our national community in this great task: the common good correctly understood is never partisan or sectarian. But if it cannot reform its relationship with the poor, the Church risks a sterile internal conversation, sidelining the very person of Jesus. This article is a shortened version of an article written by Jenny for The Tablet in April 2017.

Jenny Sinclair is the founder/director of Together for the Common Good, an emerging movement aiming to bring alive the principle of the Common Good and to encourage people to work together across their differences. www.togetherforthecommongood.co.uk

UNITY IN Our World

years ago, in 2002, I heard of a Christian Aid supported programme regarding ‘Teenage Night Commuters’ in the Acholi tribal lands, Northern Uganda. Every night, teenagers from rural communities would trek to the nearest town to sleep in communal, guarded compounds, where safety in numbers really was the philosophy. By so doing, they reduced the chance of being abducted by the Lords Resistance Army and taken to be a child soldier or child bride for an LRA official, a fate that had befallen many of their fellow teenagers, who were subsequently described as ‘missing’. It was my first real insight into Uganda, and also a significant insight into ‘community’ as a positive, unifying force. Members of the local communities, recognizing the danger for teenagers sleeping at home and pulling together to provide a safe haven resulting in many lives being saved. Since then the LRA has been defeated and fled, and ‘normal’ life is resuming in Northern Uganda. Much healing needs to take place – psychological healing for both the victims and the perpetrators of the atrocities, emotional healing, spiritual healing, and a lot of forgiveness – of self and others. But through unity and community, progress is being made Through my work with CRED Foundation, I am still deeply involved in projects in Uganda, and as a result have been privileged to see examples of this positive community spirit in action: In Gulu, the I-Live-Again-Uganda project provides trauma counseling to individuals and villages as they seek to recover from the past and start living for the future. Forgiveness is at the heart of all they do – they see community coming together in unifying, forgiving, empowering ways. In Acholi Quarters, Kampala, where many Acholi people fled, I have sat with community

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Helen Harrison shares stories of unity from Uganda and challenges us to reflect on how we ‘do’ community members in their informal, slum-like settlement discussing their plans for community-based, collaborative working: organizing adult literacy classes, setting up joint income-generating activities, and generally supporting each other and sharing what meager resources they have. I’ve seen similar in Kibera slum, Nairobi where 42 different tribes live in the largest slum in East Africa; a potential hotbed for inter-tribal rivalries and disunity. But it is also a place where people come together, despite their tribal differences, and support each other, looking after widows, orphans and the vulnerable, and doing ‘community unity’ really well. Modern-day versions of the Acts 2 church model I guess. For us in the West I think there are a few points that we can reflect on: ì How much do we ‘do community’ in a positive, unifying way? How can we adapt our approach and attitude to ensure that our role in our local community is one that encourages and promotes unity? ì How much do we look beyond our own borders to those issues overseas that we can play a part in? Whether it is campaigning, praying or giving there are so many ways to get involved – but do we? ì How much do we as Christians in politics conform to the tribal and divisive style of politics? We are all one in Christ Jesus – united by Him. How much do we demonstrate that in our local political arenas, and in our responses to national political issues? Food for thought I hope!

Helen is an LDCF member, local Councillor and the current Mayor of Thornbury. She is married with twin daughters too!

COMMUNITY STORIES

Christians in Politics

s I write, the Christians in Politics office is regrouping after an amazing two weeks at the New Wine Christian Festival at the Bath and Wells Showground at Shepton Mallett. We had the incredible privilege of leading one of the daily seminar streams aptly entitled: ‘Christians in Politics’.

We had arranged for a diverse range of speakers to give talks based on the political engagement of a variety of Biblical characters which included Esther, Daniel, Obadiah and St Paul. The role of spin was explored through the parable of the Good Samaritan and we discussed whether Jesus would inspire revolution or bless democracy. We had also lined up a broad array of Christian politicians from different parties (which included several MPs, a Baroness and local Councillors) to provide inspiration for people to consider becoming involved in politics through hearing of their work and influence in public life. Imagine my delight therefore when early in week 1, in a queue for the showers (so incredibly important in a week that was exceptionally wet and muddy….), the person next to me said ‘are you the Christians in Politics lady?’. Raising myself up to the full height that my wellies would permit, I proudly said ‘yes, have you been to any our seminars?,

IT’S NOT AT ALL LIKE THE TV SERIES ‘HOUSE OF CARDS’! 16

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Pat Finlow tells us all about her experience of the Christians in Politics community from a field in Somerset!

expecting her perhaps to comment on the biblical teaching and political insight we had provided. ‘Oh yes’, she said, ‘we have been chatting in our campsite, and we just love the tone of the sessions– you all seem to get on so well together…’ I must admit, this initially took me by surprise – the primary information that had been received by this lady and her friends wasn’t the Biblical teaching (which, by the way, I believe was excellent) but rather, it was that Christian politicians in different parties actually get along with, and even like, each other. As the conversation developed, it transpired there had been a little nervousness among this lady’s friends about coming to a politics seminar as it was thought it may be a bit ‘awkward’ at best or even heated or destructive. It seemed the media portrayal of politics as a blood sport (especially perhaps the spectacle of Prime Minister’s Questions) had caused many to avoid politics as they didn’t feel they could be so combative, especially in public life. But as one of our speakers observed: It’s not at all like the TV series ‘House of Cards’! This shower encounter took me back to my notes of the sessions to date and I observed that, without any prior briefing or prompting, each of the politicians participating had wholeheartedly endorsed the Christians in Politics theme of ‘Kingdom before Tribe’, speaking of cross party friendships, prayer

times, bible studies and even mentoring of new MPs so that a Christian witness would be evident and thrive within Parliament. I realised this unity was all the more pertinent in the first talk which noted the divisions in society that had become exposed during and after the Brexit referendum. They proposed that part of our response to this as Christians is to demonstrate unity – even when we disagree. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has also said: ‘Good disagreement is a gift that the church can offer the world around it and our political system could certainly do with a healthy dose of it’. We hear a lot these days about the ‘post truth society’ or ‘fake news’ and perhaps one unrecognised example of this is the notion that Christians in different parties cannot share fellowship with each other. Since I have been working at Christians in Politics it has been my joy to work with many people in different parties, to hear their stories, and to see their joy (and occasional banter!) in mutual fellowship. This was perhaps the reason that the negative expectation of the lady in the shower queue had such an impact on me, as it wasn’t my experience. Christians in Politics are a unique but brilliant community of communities – LDCF, Christians on the Left and CCF - where the phrase ‘Kingdom before Tribe’ isn’t just a clever maxim – it is truly a reality.

During week 2 of New Wine, Sal Brinton, the Lib Dem President, reminded us that fake news isn’t a new phenomenon, drawing our attention to Zechariah 10 v2: ‘The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd’. Drawing all these thoughts together, I would suggest that we can challenge the false news rhetoric of inevitable political division by first connecting as brothers and sisters in Christ; secondly, by recognising those areas where we can agree; and finally when we don’t, by disagreeing well.

Pat is the Events and Communications Manager of Christians in Politics. She has recently completed a doctorate exploring how faith affects social justice movements. Previously Pat worked for a number of major charities, both Christian and mainstream. She also sits on the Advisory Council of the Cinnamon Network and is vice-chair of Churches Together in Folkestone.

For more info, please go to the Christians in Politics website: christiansinpolitics.org.uk 17

COMMUNITY STORIES

Your Stories

Save the Children’s Centres!

“Kenilworth is an affluent dormitory town in Warwickshire with approximately 23,000 residents. Its two Children’s Centres are under the threat of closure as a result of the Conservative and Labour groups on the County Council voting through budget cuts in February. Various groups in Kenilworth have come together to try to save the Centres vital services for children and parents. One of the towns churches has hosted a huge public consultation event and parents and staff of the two Centres have organised special meetings with

County Council staff. Local Lib Dems got the Town Council to pass a motion in support of County Councillors working to save the Centres and a Facebook group holds weekly online campaign meetings. The final element is to try to be positive by producing a new operating model that will save at least one of the Centres. Our community is coming together online and offline to protect vital services. Watch this space for the outcome!” By Richard Dickson, Councillor and LDCF Member

Refugees Welcome “Thornbury is a market town 10 miles outside of Bristol. Earlier this year I, as the local mayor, invited all the Syrian Refugee families from Bristol to come to the town for the afternoon. We funded the transport to ensure they could get to us and local councillors and members of the local churches made up the welcome party. After a tour of the local town hall and the parish church, the Syrian families and Thornbury families spent some time at the local park, where the Syrians marvelled in

the amount of space, countryside and ‘green-ness’. The afternoon finished with tea, sandwiches and cakes at the local Baptist church, all provided by church members. Despite language barriers, there was much conversation, laughter and good memories made. A wonderful example of two communities coming together across religious, language and cultural differences.” By Helen Harrison, Mayor of Thornbury and LDCF Member

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Winter Warmth “Church-sitting in our parish church near the centre of town and seeing the advert appealing for warm winter clothes from the local Day Centre for the homeless, it occurred to us that one of our weekly church-sitting stints could not only enable the church to be open for prayer as part of the usual pattern, but serve as a collection point for the appeal. And why not beyond just our congregation? So an advert with the date and time for one particular week went around the Deanery churches. Would anything

turn up? That first year a car load, including a full boot, was delivered. And it seems to have become an annual fixture with people asking for the date in advance. Having just one date seems to focus attention. Last year we needed a people carrier to fit it all in. Not spectacular or particularly original but something we can do, in addition to the annual winter night shelter in the church hall, to make a difference where we are.” By Rosemary Walters, LDCF Exec Member

Coffee, Croissants and Church “St Nicholas’ Church Winsley, Wiltshire, has a strong link with its Church School. Every second Sunday we hold a café service in the school hall, pupils and young families come together in a friendly, informal setting. A gifted team, including our youth worker and a retired head teacher, leads these services which begin over coffee and croissants.

They include worship songs, and talks on themes such as ‘finding direction’, and the work of Fair-trade. We usually conclude by reading out prayers people have written and handed in. It’s a great way for school and church communities to come together.” By Judith Cunliffe-Jones, LDCF Exec Member

COMMUNITY STORIES

Premier

he concept of community has changed so much since the industrial revolution. For much of history your community was your locality, family and tribe. Today we are interconnected in ways that were, until recently, unimaginable. Through the digital space we can now be connected simultaneously with people from around the globe whilst not knowing our next door neighbour’s first name. Media has the ability to create connections and shared experiences between people who would not otherwise meet. It has the ability to tell stories of individuals and communities to wider audiences and to make their challenges and joys known. Within this, Christian media has a special and unique role to play. Premier exists to help build and strengthen the Christian community across both denomination and background. From the new Christian who has yet to find a Church to the elderly and housebound; from the inner city to the deepest countryside our aim is to provide a space where community can exist. Through our multi-media offering of 24-7 broadcasting across three radio stations, three leading publications, events and a suite of websites; Premier connects over one million Christians every month. As a non-visual medium radio especially has the ability to bring people together without any sense of the ‘other’ and thus our audiences are diverse in age, ethnicity, geography and churchmanship. True community also means being there for people when they need you. Through Premier Lifeline we answer 100,000 calls a year from people in need of a listening ear and prayerful

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Premier tell us the story of their community and the impact they’ve seen media have on how people connect and who we connect with support in their distress. We believe that it is our duty not to ‘dodge the tough stuff’, so our output tackles issues that probably aren’t being talked about in our churches. In addition to bringing the Christian community together, our aim is to enable people to connect with their local communities. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that ‘the Church is the Church only when it exists for others’, therefore we both equip and encourage our audiences to reach out to their communities in many ways. One example of this the Love Britain and Ireland Awards, which each year celebrates Christian projects that are making a tangible difference in people’s lives. Another is the Premier Digital Awards and Conference, where we help Christians use digital media to further their ministries and reach out online. It is also important that we are connected to the wider body of Christ across the world and engage with world events from a Christian perspective. That is why we have invested in developing our news offering where everyday you can get a unique view of world events and hear stories that you would otherwise miss. Community and the feeling of belonging are hard to define, yet we all know the real thing when we experience it. Perhaps it comes down to being truly known and feeling truly loved. Media is not an alternative to community, but it can help created the conditions in which it can grow.

Find out more about Premier and our community at premier.org.uk

THE POWER

of prayer I

was re-watching an episode of that excellent political TV drama The West Wing the other night – a must see show for those who have missed it – and caught the segment where an obviously dubious right wing Republican US senator was trying to get the Bartlett administration to fund a pilot programme on the efficacy of prayer.

The general narrative thrust was this is a crazy idea and why would a sensible liberal government even contemplate such an irrational if not downright bizarre action. And, needless to say, the proposal was laughed out of court. Now here’s the thing; I am as liberal as you can be, a rationalist to my finger

tips and always want to see ‘the evidence’ before making a decision. But, and here comes the but – as someone with a deep personal belief in God I have an absolute respect and appreciation in that very power. Why? Because of the liberal reasons I’ve outlined above. In other words I have seen and experienced, numerous times, the positive outcomes of my praying. Do I care whether it’s a psychological positivepresumptive placebo and not actual intervention from God – nope. Does it work for me – yup. Be it to provide me with the strength to get through a difficult time, grant me an insight into a troubling problem, help me solve an intractable challenge or simply give me the patience to deal with ghastly behaviour. It has worked again and again and again.

Stephen Lloyd MP shares his perspective on the power of prayer It’s even offered me the occasional ability to tap into whatever vestige of humility I possess – and that’s saying something! The power of prayer? Not half. Try it sometime; the results may surprise you...

Stephen Lloyd MP is the Lib Dem MP for Eastbourne. He won the seat in 2010 and again in 2017. Stephen was born and brought up in Kenya then went onto have a career in business before becoming an MP in 2010. Stephen firmly believes that: “Despite our party’s current challenges in the opinion polls, in today’s populist, simplistic and even toxic national and international climate, the need for a robust, brave and rational liberal voice in the U.K. is stronger than ever.”

LET’S PRAY Creator God, please help us to build communities of living faith, active in the places we work, study and live. Lord Jesus, in washing your disciples’ feet you taught us servanthood. Help us to serve those around us selflessly, showing your love in practical form. May our actions demonstrate unconditional love and acceptance. Holy Spirit, the Comforter, bring healing to our communities. Help us to work together, creating opportunities for all to thrive. Amen By Kirsten Johnson, LDCF Vice-Chair

Here’s a collection of prayers to guide your own, some written by members of our LDCF community

Lord. Community implies belonging. Forgive us for excluding those who somehow don’t fit. Community implies location, but some have nowhere to call home. Community suggests fellowship, yet some feel alone, friendless. Forgive us for not seeing, sheltering and embracing those outside. Community can bring warmth, protection, care. Help us to share love, hope and peace with those around us. Help us to speak with your compassion; to walk in your footsteps; and act with your passion. Help me to take my first steps on this journey today, Lord. I know you walk with me. Amen Written by the Methodist Church

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

Gracious God, we pray for peace in our communities this day. We commit to you all who work for peace and an end to tensions, and those who work to uphold law and justice. We pray for an end to fear, for comfort and support to those who suffer. For calm in our streets and cities, that people may go about their lives in safety and peace. In your mercy, hear our prayers, now and always. Amen Written by the Church of England following the 2011 riots

Father God, we pray for all towns where there are new housing developments taking place that have the potential to cause divide between old and new â&#x20AC;&#x201C; may there be unity and a strong sense of community for all. We pray for all communities that are host to refugee families â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that the new families will feel welcomed and able to become part of the community, not isolated in little enclaves that reduce the sense of unity. Amen By Helen Harrison, LDCF Member

CHAIR’S

final thoughts To finish, Lizzie Jewkes leaves us with a challenging reflection on ‘the missing generation’ in our church communities

s I reflect on the theme of community, I am reminded of something I’ve recently been challenged by: the missing generation in our churches. It’s this I want to share with you as a final thought. In many churches there is a noticeable lack of young people. Those aged 16-25 are decidedly thin on the ground. A whole generation is missing. At New Wine this year, we were challenged about this. We listened to a young Swedish man (“I’ll be 23 tomorrow!”) Karl Oscar Horgy talk about how, when he returned to his church from Bible college, there was just one other person there under the age of 25. And she was the daughter of the minister. It is easy to pass this problem off to someone else. But while we may not all be gifted Youth Workers there are two things we can all do. We can welcome young people when they come into church. Rachel Gardner talks about the experience of one young girl from the tv programme ‘No sex please, we’re British teenagers’ who decided to go to church. Rachel was concerned that this particular church, as she put it ‘didn’t have anyone under 200’ and she feared it would not be a good experience. But afterwards the girl reported - “this lovely old lady gave me books and explained where to read and afterwards gave me a drink of squash and the flowers off the thingy at the front. It was awesome”. She was welcomed and we can all do that.

Liberal Democrat Christian Forum / 2017-2018

We can, like Karl Oscar Horgy, pray for young people to join the church too. He began to pray for his church and they now have 100 young people. But where to start? I have four children who have been brought up in church and each made a commitment to Jesus Christ but all have drifted away from the church. I was sitting with a friend of mine and neither of her adult children go to church now either. We both resolved to join with a third parent and, together, to begin praying for young people to join the church by praying for our own to return. I asked another mum and so did my friend, then others joined too. We met up the next week. Seven parents who have committed to pray daily for each other’s children – a total of 42 children, their partners and grandchildren. Then I mentioned it to my vicar and the Missing Generation Prayer Group is now part of my church. Others have joined, adding their adult children and grandchildren to the list or just to pray for ours. Why not join us and pray that no church is missing a generation of young people?

In addition to being the current chair of LDCF, Lizzie Jewkes is the PPC for City of Chester and an Exec member of Lib Dem Women. She has been a member of the Party since 1984 and is best known for creating the policy of raising the income tax threshold. She attends St Peter’s church in Chester where she leads the team of intercessors at Night Church.

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