Part 140. Ongoing issues

Four issues.

1. Ban on coversion therapy.

It is anticipated the Bill will be published very soon banning the use of conversion therapy.  There is concern the bill will permit therapy when a person consents to its use.  The fear is that, in order to placate Christian fundamentalists, the exemption will render the legislation practically useless.

2. New Salvation Army General takes up his post.

The General-elect takes up his post in August. Will he set about dismantling barriers to full inclusion?

3. Church of England blessing for individuals in same sex marriages.

The bishops will be presenting to General Synod proposals for blessing individuals in same sex marriages. 

4. Uganda

The decision of the Ugandan parliament to persecute homosexuals, supported by the Uganda Anglican Church, doubtless will exercise General Synod given the hand-wringing reponse of the leader of the Anglican Communion.

I shall comment in detail as each of the issues as matters unfold.

Part 139. A sorry tale.

Some years ago I was a governor at my local Church of England Aided Infant School and also held a governorship at the Church of England Controlled Junior School.  The then vicar more or less insisted he should chair both governing bodies.  The junior school had problems and a proposed merger failed when the infant school governors refused to countenance such a step.

Roll forward a few years. The schools merged but problems persisted. Then the governors, including the new vicar, resigned en bloc stating they were unable to implement county council directives. Thus important links between church, school and community were damaged.

The county council and diocese imposed governors of their choosing. This month an OFSTED inspection report downgraded the school from 'good' to 'needs improvement'.

Many parents in my locality prefer their children to attend any primary school so long as it is not the local one. The recent OFSTED report will have stiffened parental opposition to sending children to the school. I fear for the future of the school, particularly as the county council is proposing to close the Surestart provision based on the school site.

It is a sad tale and an example of the church withdrawing from the community. The church has its own financial problems to contend with and it can ill afford to withdraw from its responsibilities to the school and community.

Part 138. Social Justice Champion: application withdrawal

I have been patient, but really. My application to be a Social Justice Champion  (a voluntary position with The Salvation Army) was made on 4th April. Since then no progress of any significance.  Today I withdrew my application.  

I pray that the Lord will direct me to where such skills and experience I possess may best be used. As this may lead me to another denomination it is likely I shall have to cease to be an Adherent.

Part 137. Hey ho!

I came upon a post on a Facebook page managed by Salvationists.  The page states one of its objectives to be to defend the authority of the Bible as the infallible revelation of the knowledge of God,  His laws and the way of Salvation. In other words a literalist and fundamentalist approach to biblical interpretation.

The post:

Christianity does not "progress" with the times. If it did it would be a false religion. Do not be deceived into thinking there is a progressive form of Christianity. It doesn't exist because the truth never changes. Gods (sic) word is the same yesterday today and forever. 

The truth may not change but its  interpretation and application will change. Faith is not a fossilised set of rules to be  read in ancient texts. Christian faith is set out in the broad principles attributed to Jesus. Sadly some Salvationists ascribe to the old rules and not broad principles. This does not bode well for full inclusion unless the next General propels The Salvation Army into  progressive stance.

Part 136. In summary....

For a few months I have been putting on paper and sharing my thoughts on my faith. I am no theologian and it has been impressed on my audience that I do not seek to influence others. Should my musings be helpful so be it.

As Christians we should follow the teaching of Jesus, in particular to obey the two Great Commandents, to follow him and work for his kingdom on earth. Our guide should be the synoptic gospels and the holy spirit. We can dispense with the Old Testament and Pauline commentary. We must take care in reading the synoptic gospels as they were written decades after the death of Jesus. Thus it is doubtful that we can have success in finding the historical Jesus, but we do have a body of later writing testifying to his teaching.  

Christians should not follow the bible, they should follow Jesus.  The synoptic gospels set out the principles of the Christian faith. They are not to be construed as legalistic rules. They should be construed through the lens of love. Love drives us to tackle the causes of poverty, marginalisation and discrimination.

Many will disagree with my opinions. So be it.  I do not seek to influence anyone to share my thinking.   My views have been set out in greater detail in earlier posts. They are on public record.

Part 135. All are equal and different.

We are all unique. It's in our DNA. The fact we are different is no reason to treat people unequally. Race, sex, beliefs, shape, indeed any distinguishing features are not reasons to justify treating people differently. But sadly society does just that and so do some so-called Christians. Considerable time, energy and expense is dedicated to overcoming the effects of discrimination, marginalisation and poverty.  It is all about tackling the symptoms of a systemically rotten society.  What is required is a radical approach to tackle causes, not to continually medicate symptoms.

Now what was it Jesus said about love, following him and His kingdom on earth?

Part 134. Social Justice Champion Application Update.

I applied to become a Salvation Army Social Justice Champion (SJC) on 4th April 2023.  Sadly my application is pending. A date for a meeting to consider my application has not been set. I am a patient person but I am sorely tempted to withdraw my application.

Part 133. Support cooperatives (4)

I noted the need for foodbanks over fifteen years ago and helped form a community interest company to promote their development. The speed of the growth in the number of foodbanks has surprised me, although the need for them and the causes of that need are clear. Too many people live in abject poverty and need help.  Society should will the means to take individuals out of poverty. Instead government pays lip service to overcoming poverty and leaves it to the voluntary sector to pick up the pieces of broken lives. It is a tragedy.

There is no quick fix solution. What is required is better education, better health and wellbeing provision, better housing,  better public transport, better job opportunities, better care for the elderly and so on. People have been saying this for many years but government is bedevilled by short-termism and the realisation that there are not many votes to be gained by promoting policies to bring about improvement. And so the causes of poverty continue. We have sink schools, a health service on its knees, poor quality and quantity of social housing, declining public transport etc.

Christians are providing bandages. We need to campaign for fundamental  changes in  policy and expenditure priorities of government. 

Foodbanks are either self-standing organisations or part of a larger organisation. They may be community interest companies, or unincorporated associations or limited companies with or without charitable status.They are not operating as cooperatives. The clients of foodbanks are not members with equal voting rights. The Rochdale Pioneers saw self-help as the key to improving their lives.  This is an approach churches should encourage and support. 

Part 132. Uganda

When european states colonised Africa it was divided into colonies the boundaries of which had no regard for the geographic distribution of the indigenous tribes. When independence was gained it was followed in some states by tribal warfare. Nigeria springs to mind. It was reminiscent of the carnage following partition of India, although the latter had its basis in religion.  In Africa politics, religion, genocide, apartheid and external influences have all played a role in feeding civil unrest and military intervention.

Uganda has form when it comes to attacking minorities.  Idi Amin forced thousands of Asians, mostly immigrants from India, to leave. Now the Ugandan state is coming after homosexuals, criminalising them and attaching prison sentences and the death penalty as punishment.

The reaction of Christian churches has been abject. The Anglican church in Uganda is broadly in favour of criminalising homosexuality and is planning to offer what in effect will be conversion therapy. Where is the denunciation from the Anglican Communion? Not a sign. The Salvation Army has a Uganda Territory. What representations are the Army's international leaders making? Deafening silence? I have not noted any sign of condemnation from the Roman Catholic Church.  

Overall the reaction of the churches is deplorable.  Theology has real consequences. Bible literalist fundamentalists such as the GAFCON crowd, amongst others, have a lot to answer for.

Part 131. Support cooperatives (3)

A declaration of interest. I have promoted credit unions for many years, engaging with housing associations, local government, churches, community groups and secular charities. 

Credit unions are cooperatives, one member one vote organisations. A person investing £5.00 has the same voting rights as a person investing £1,000.00. One important feature of Credit unions is a willingness to consider on a case by case basis lending to individuals with a poor credit history. However much more needs to be done to reach individuals at risk of, or having been, ensnared by loansharks charging astronomical interest rates.

As Christians we can assist credit unions by saving with them. Deposits are protected in like manner to bank and building society deposits. The more that is saved enables a credit union to expand its lending. We can encourage individuals in need of financial help to apply to credit unions and support applications.

Credit unions and churches should be part of the infrastructure of support for people suffering poverty, deprivation and marginalisation. They should work in collaboration with each other.

Part 130. Support cooperatives (2)

Cooperatives are owned and controlled by its members. Each member has one vote. They are democratic organisations. Not like many churches.

The Salvation Army does not have elections except for its General who is elected by territorial leaders. It is run like an army with a top-down structure.

The Church of England has a limited democratic structure.  There are elections, not all open to every member, for parochial church councils, churchwardens, deanery and diocesan synods and General Synod. The bishops in General Synod can block motions. Archbishops, bishops and cathedral deans are appointed by the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Control is vested in the top hierarchy.

Many self-standng free churches are controlled by Elders who appoint new Elders.

Doubtless there are denominations with sound democratic credentials and some which are not.  The important point is that formal structures do not reflect always the reality of the functional operation of power and control. Cooperatives have democratic control  'wired in' and this is sadly lacking in many churches where power rests with the gatekeepers. Christians should support cooperatives,  learn about democratic processes and seek to have them applied by their own churches.

Part 129. Support cooperatives (1)

I am of the opinion that Christians should support cooperatives and I intend to explain why in this and future posts.  Cooperatives exist in a number of settings  so it may be helpful to start with a definition. The International Cooperative Aliance (ICA) defines a cooperative as:

an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. 

The ICA states cooperatives values are based on values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness  social responsibility and caring for others.

The ICA states cooperatives are open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender,  social, racial or religious discrimination.

All sentiments to be applauded, but are they descriptions of the reality? Probably not.

Part 128. Conversion therapy legislation.

The United Kingdom government is expected to publish shortly a Bill designed to ban conversion therapy. Not before time.  There has been much delay in reaching this stage: the reason for the delay is unclear. There is concern that the Bill will not make provision for an outright ban but that there will be exceptions or  loopholes enabling the therapy to continue.

Pressure groups on both sides of the argument are geared up for promoting and campaigning for their respective views.  The pro-conversion lobby has major players in The Christian Institute and some evangelical Christian bodies. The pro lobby argues that conversion and homosexuality are purely matters of choice, are sinful and should be opposed on supposedly scriptural grounds. Tosh.

The anti-conversion lobby  primarily led by Stonewall, wishes to see no exceptions to an outright ban.

The worry is that Parliament may support exceptions based on religious conscience. The underlying scriptural support for permitting conversion therapy to continue is based on an outdated, literalist and fundamentalist understanding of the Christian faith. It is legalistic and far removed from Jesus's concept of love all. It is based also on a wilful disregard of science.  There is clear evidence that sexual orientation is not a matter of personal preference but is physiological.

It will soon be time to contact MPs to ask they support a complete ban and not support half-baked exemptions.