Part 16. The Pursuit of Social Justice (2)

Demanding that the state should shoulder responsibility for direct support.

Pressure groups form to advocate and lobby for change. An organisation providing direct support may at the same time campaign for the burden to be lifted from them and become the responsibility of the State.  In other words there is a demand that there be a redistribution of resources. Given the demands made on public expenditure this will inevitably lead to conflict with government (and itsagencies) and also with other organisations seeking public funding for their cause.

Faith groups often feel uncomfortable in confronting secular organisations and governments,  whether local or national.

Faith organisations may work with government in partnership. Usually government provides the finance and the organisation engages in the work. This poses a number of issues. A faith group may bid for a contract with government to deliver government services. Such an arrangement limits the independence of the faith organisation as not only is it bound by the terms of the contract, it may be pressured to make changes to its operations at the time of contract renewal.

The fear of interference as outlined above also applies when government agrees to fund in full or in part a faith based groups'  activities.  The same concerns apply to secular groups funded in full or in part by government. Faith and secular groups need to be clear that becoming reliant on external funding leaves them wide open to demands for change in the way they operate.  It is a dirty business.

Voluntary faith and secular organisations sometimes claim to be working in partnership with other organisations when in fact they are engaged in collaborative working. The distinction is important. Partnership entails rights and duties which may have legal consequences. Collaborative working is often expressed in terms of intentions which carry no legal force. Phrases such as 'best endeavours' and 'seek to' abound. The litmus test in collaborative working is how far do you trust your collaborator to deliver?

Faith based groups should seek to make collaborative working a positive reality. For too long there has been a silo mentality in which churches give the impression of being apart from the community rather than being outwards looking and part of the community.

All this is a far cry from biblical theology but it is a consequence of following the command to love your neighbour. Is it Practical Theology?

Final points.

In the UK faith groups must not use taxpayers money to fund activities which promote faith except as an incidental consequence arising from the activity being funded. 'Incidental' might include the location where the activity takes place or the personnel involved.

I have been an employee and a volunteer for faith based and secular organisations in the voluntary sector.  The relationship between the sector and public bodies can be rewarding but it would be foolhardy to seek to minimise the very real problems and tension that exist between them.