Part 193. When all is said and done.

2023 was quite a year for me. I dispensed finally with the last vestiges of fundamentalist literalist conservative evangelicalism and embraced, for me, new ideas. What "my theology' is now I don't know or care but most certainly it is orientated in the progressive/liberal, maybe even the deconstructive, direction.

It has been so liberating to escape the clutches of detailed conservative evangelical biblical exposition and replace it with the broad principles of Jesus as reported in the synoptic gospels.  The two Great Commandments fulfill all earlier teaching and asks of us to love God and love others. The teaching of Jesus, to follow him, to seek His kingdom on earth through love is a simple yet profound concept.

I have given up regularly attending bible study groups. Instead I look forward to attending groups seeking to discern what it means in practical terms to follow Jesus, to understand how love should show itself to to the marginalised and discriminated  against in our society. The shift that has taken place in my thinking  is one of moving from private piety to public proclamation of the need for systemic change in our society. I accept that showing love entails meeting present needs and many faith groups provide a wide range of loving support for people in straitened circumstances or on the receiving end of discrimination.  But simply propping up the system is not enough.  Followers of Jesus should campaign for change, to sweep away the rotten systems and attitudes causing so much hurt and misery. Jesus confronted religious, legal and political systems and so should we.  But do we? Do we seek instead comfort in our church congregations and the feel-good factor of direct assistance to individuals.  I believe we all do in varying degrees and I do not criticise for one second anyone for so doing. But in our heart at least we should pray for His kingdom to come and empowerment of individuals able to campaign for change.

Churches are very good at studying and preaching on the minutiae of bible passages. What is lacking is studying how the two Great Commandents are to be put into effect. How do we challenge those in power to effect systemic change? How do we empower individuals to rise up and campaign for change? Have the lessons of Liberation Theology been understood and applied? Sadly I have my doubts. Too many good people are enveloped in the comfort of churches rather than going into the world and challenging its assumptions and systems.  

Part 192. Dear reader

Christmas and New Year is when I reflect on the past, consider what may happen, what I wish to happen and what I should do.  

The major change for me in the past two years has been to shed finally a long-standing favourable disposition towards  conservative evangelicalism. Even a cursory glance at this blog will inform the reader that I have moved towards a liberal/progressive stance: particularly my promotion of a theology pertaining favourably to promoting social justice. My opinions have changed, my preferences have changed but that does not mean that my current stance is any better than the previous positions I held to. Supporting a particular set of opinions is no reason for smug arrogance and deprecation of others holding contrary views.

I hope 2024 will be remembered as the year The Salvation Army embraced full inclusion. Will it happen in the UK and Ireland Territory? Undoubtedly there is strong support for inclusion, but is it sufficient to achieve change?  There is a key conference in March 2024, open to all to attend, followed by a meeting of Territorial leaders and culminating in a meeting of the Cabinet. The process is to consider many aspects of belonging and membership and presumably will focus on how to staunch the loss of members,  discern ways to reverse the trend and how to increase officer numbers.  My intention is to support a move to full inclusion and individuals promoting the cause.

A major disappointment in 2023 was the failure of the government to publish a bill to ban conversion therapy. There has been prevarication, obfuscation and dissembling by the Conservative government.  Labour and Liberal Democrats are pledged to ban conversion therapy. We must hope for either a reversal of the government's stance or the election of a Labour government in 2024 or 2025.

Finally, I shall continue to support individuals and faith and secular organisations, campaigning for systemic change to tackle the causes of poverty, deprivation, exclusion and marginalisation in our society. It is a broad canvas, but there is much to do on many fronts. 

Part 191. A Christmas present from the Pope

Yesterday the Vatican issued a statement authorised by the Pope on blessings for couples not married in accordance with the theology and doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.  The timing of the announcement may have been a surprise but the substance of the statement had been hinted at in October 2023 in a letter from the Pope to USA retired conservative cardinals.

The statement empowers priests to grant a blessing to individuals in a same-sex marriage or an 'irregular' marriage, for example where one party is previously divorced.

The detailed statement may be found using a search engine.  The statement emphasises that a blessing will in furtherance of the pastoral responsibility of the Church.  It is not to be construed as a change in the Church's teaching on marriage. Thus it neatly sidesteps the theological and doctrinal issues besetting the Church of England on the issue.

A blessing must not be linked in any way to a church service, nor must it be construed as a stand-alone service. It has to be low key and without the trappings which might be construed as akin to a wedding.

The Church of England has agreed to blessing of individuals in a same-sex marriage as part of an existing service and in 2024 it will, for an experimental period, authorise stand-alone services.

Some argue that the blessings are only a minor change in pastoral care and that the Roman Catholic Church's doctrine is unchanged. Others are of the opinion that it indicates the Church is engaged in a slow process of change: the tectonic plates are on the move.

Part 190. LLF. A dam breached?

Yesterday, as if to celebrate my birthday, some parishes of the Church of England held prayers for the first time as part of authorised services to bless individuals in a same-sex marriage. Not you may note to bless the marriage itself and most certainly not to marry the couple.  

The blessing must be an element of an existing authorised service. However, the amendment moved by the Bishop of Oxford at the recent General Synod to permit stand-alone services of blessing of individuals in a same-sex marriage was carried. Guidance from the bishops is awaited as to the format of such services. 

In any event the newstand-alone services will only be for a limited period. Eventually there will have to be two thirds majority in each of the three Houses of General Synod to authorise the services on a permanent basis. Whilst it is probable that the vote in the House of Bishops will achieve the two thirds majority, it is possible the House of Clergy may just short fall of the two thirds requirement.

The real battle will be in the House of Laity where it is by no means certain that there will even be a simple majority in favour. My understanding is that a vote is likely to be after the next round of elections to Synod. The Church of England Evangelical Council and Forward in Faith will doubtless be making arrangements for a concerted push in support of candidates pro status quo.  Where or what is the umbrella organisation in support of candidates favourably disposed to authorising new services and, dare it be said, blessing of same-sex marriages and even same-sex  marriages?

Part 189. Karl Popper. A significant influence in my life.

My father was a Cambridge University history graduate and taught at a state grammar school. He had an extensive  book collection including Karl Popper's Poverty of Historicism.

I read the book prior to reading for a law degree. The book has been an influence on my political, legal, social and theological mindset all my adult life. I like to think of it as a positive influence for good, it is for others to judge. 

Below is an extract from another Karl Popper work.

“Work for the elimination of concrete evils rather than for the realization of abstract goods. Do not aim at establishing happiness by political means. Rather aim at the elimination of concrete miseries. Or, in more practical terms: fight for the elimination of poverty by direct means--for example, by making sure that everybody has a minimum income. Or fight against epidemics and disease by erecting hospitals and schools of medicine. Fight illiteracy as you fight criminality. But do all this by direct means. Choose what you consider the most urgent evil of the society in which you live, and try patiently to convince people that we can get rid of it. 

But do not try to realize these aims indirectly by designing and working for a distant ideal of a society which is wholly good. However deeply you may feel indebted to its inspiring vision, do not think that you are obliged to work for its realization, or that it is your mission to open the eyes of others to its beauty. Do not allow your dreams of a beautiful world to lure you away from the claims of men who suffer here and now. Our fellow men have a claim to our help; no generation must be sacrificed for the sake of future generations, for the sake of an ideal of happiness that may never be realized. In brief, it is my thesis that human misery is the most urgent problem of a rational public policy and that happiness is not such a problem. The attainment of happiness should be left to our private endeavours.”

Karl Popper, 'Conjectures and Refutations'.

I concur with the thrust of the argument. It is for individuals, both individually and collectively, to demand social justice, to alleviate pain and suffering by direct support to deal with symptoms and more importantly to campaign for action to tackle causes. This is the theme of many of my posts. As progressive Christians assert, love your neighbour is not only about ambulance work but also campaigning vigorously for systemic change.

Christians have an ideal, a hope for a better world in the future, but that must not be the sole focus of faith. Piety, self satisfaction that one is saved, introspection, smug complacency to the exclusion of all else is not the message of Jesus. There is a song Happy to live for Jesus. Well yes, not for our own personal satisfaction, but to do His work on earth. Hope for his kingdom to come on earth must not blind us to the need for action now.

Part 188. Unsettled time. Bring it on!

Today I have posted two items on my Facebook page: John Hopkinson Theology Page. Both refer to serious discontent, one within the ranks of the Roman Catholic Church, the other within the Church of England.

The progressive direction of travel  established by Pope Francis has not been well received by many in the Church and in particular by a group of Bishops in the USA. Pope Francis has applied sanctions to them. The article I  posted is a vicious hatchet job, hardly indicative of Christian love.

The Church of England Evangelical Council  has established temporary arrangements for episcopal pastoral oversight to be available to clergy and congregations unwilling to support recent decisions by General Synod to authorise bishops to introduce inter alia, stand alone services of blessing for couples in same sex marriages.  The CEEC hopes to establish formal arrangements, presumably in like fashion to the 'flying bishops' following the ordination of women. The CEEC arrangements presumably will not be available in dioceses where the bishop opposed the blessings. It all smacks of schism. Is GAFCON calling?

One trusts that The Salvation Army will note the problems faced by both churches as it considers the rising tide of opposition with the lower ranks to the current homophobia in the Army in respect of soldiership and officership.

Part 187. Another damning indictment.

In Part 173 reference is made to the report of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation entitled Destitution in the UK 2023. The report paints a shocking picture of the failure of the political process to alleviate and tackle the causes of extreme poverty.

Last week the Social Justice Commission of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) published its report Two Nations: the State of Poverty in the UK. It is further evidence of the failure of politicians to tackle poverty issues in any sustained meaningful way. The report tells of a widening gulf between main stream society and a depressed and poverty-stricken underclass. Shades of JK Galbraith. The gap is wider than it has been since Victorian times and risks becoming a chasm. The Chief Executive of CSJ states a strategy is needed to go after the root causes of poverty: education, work, debt, addiction and family. The report adds crime, poor housing and health to the list.

The Commission's membership includes Lord King. Former Governor of the  Bank of England.

Tim Farron. Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Andy Burnham. Former Labour minister and currently Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Miriam Cates. Conservative MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge.

(Cates is an evangelical Christian. She has been touting Tory MPs to oppose any proposals to ban conversion therapy and is no friend of the trans community. A former chief at CSJ is married to a minister of a church supporting conversion therapy.)

Sadly, the latest report is likely to gather dust as have many other reports on the causes of poverty. There will be wringing of hands and expressions of concern but doubtless failure to tackle the systemic issues. As Galbraith noted society has the means to deal with the issues, it is unwilling to pay the cost. Instead there will be minor adjustments to alleviate the symptoms but nothing meaningful to tackle the causes.

From a Christian perspective we are told by Jesus to love our neighbour. Bishop Desmond Tutu said we should stop pulling people out of the river: instead we should go up river, find out why they are falling in and put a stop to it. The churches are very good at pulling people out of the river but woefully inadequate at demanding systemic change to stop them falling in. Christians individually and collectively should campaign vigorously in the political arena for systemic change to overcome poverty. Somehow I do not believe the denominations will engage politicians with the determination, passion, perseverance and zeal that is required to force change. But change is needed, urgently.

Part 186. Parish update.

In a diocese awash with conservative evangelical low churches, a few High Church/Anglo-Catholic parishes and some of indeterminate theology 'my' parish has a long-standing commitment to progressive/liberal theology.  A former incumbent was referred to, half jokingly, as the priest who had replaced biblical exposition with thoughts on editorials in The Guardian  newspaper. Exaggeration of course.

The evangelical diocesan bishop publicly has expressed opposition to the motion of the House of Bishops to General Synod consisting of recommendations in respect of same-sex marriage blessings arising from Living in Love and Faith.

I am delighted that the present incumbent in the parish regards the approval of the motion as a refreshingly good piece of news. It is really a good way to start Advent.

Whilst I agree with the vicar that progress has been made, I disagree with his claim that in passing the motion the major hurdle has been cleared. The problem is that in a few years there will be a requirement for the proposals to be approved by at least a two-thirds majority in each of the three Houses. It is doubtful the House of Laity will approve. Of course there is the possibility that conservative evangelicals will clear off to GAFCON. We can but hope...

Part 185. Conversion therapy ban (again)

Following the disgraceful failure of the government to include a bill banning conversion therapy in last month's King's Speech a Labour MP plans to introduce this week  a Private Member's Bill in the House of Commons. The bill has received cross-party support. It is fifth on the list of PMBs and therefore has little chance of making progress unless granted parliamentary time by the government.

Sadly there will be strong opposition from some Conservative MPs on the spurious grounds of freedom of expression and freedom to promote faith beliefs. The main opposition comes from Conservative (in both senses of the meaning) Evangelicals spurred on by The Christian Institute.  Watch out for the contribution to this opposition by Miriam Cates, the Conservative MP for Penistone, who is an avowed evangelical Christian and certainly not in the liberal evangelical camp.