I have followed the discussions and comments between Catholic Adoption Agencies and Government Figures over the weekend in relation to the Sexual Orientation Regulations. I have today posted a response we have made on the Faithworks website at www.faithworks.info/latestnews and would be happy to make comment on it here as the debate continues. You will see it is both a maintaining of the Distinctive Position we have held on this issue and a pragamtic attempt to help and support practitioners and activists on the ground through the establishment of a new and innovative way forward. It is time for a new Framewrok for Faith.
Poverty and The Millennium Development Goals. Can we make a difference?
Poverty – Who Cares?
These goals – clean water for all; school for every child; medicine for the afflicted; an end to extreme and senseless poverty – these are not just any goals; they are the Millennium Development goals… And they are more than that. They are the Beatitudes for a globalised world.
(Keynote address given by Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast, 2nd February 2006, Washington D.C.)
In a world where so many people seem to have lost interest in Christian faith, we need to ask ourselves one simple question – ‘Why?’ Perhaps it is because the church has very often lost its own way. Particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, we have too often allowed ourselves to become obsessed with those things that we think are so morally important, at the expense of the things that actually matter. Is it possible that in losing our prophetic voice and in becoming obsessed with what goes on in the bedroom, we have lost the attention of the world? Is it possible that our failure to engage in issues of justice, serving the poor and reaching out to the marginalised, we have forfeited the right to be heard on any other issue? I think it might be. What is more, when we fail to stand up for the poor, we fail to stand up for God. Challenging words may not often be comfortable, but they are nevertheless very important:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy .
(Proverbs 31:8. All Scripture translations, unless stated are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International bible Society. Used by Permission)
The Millennium Development Goals are eight key objectives that range from halving world poverty to defeating the scourge of HIV and Aids are an attempt by the United Nations to unite the countries in the world in fighting injustice, starvation, hunger and disease. They are perhaps the most visionary and demanding goals to have flown from the UN. (For More information on the MDG’s see www.un.org/millenniumgoals or go to www.micahchallenge.org.uk ) The goals are high, some would say too high – but surely the church must recognise that these are goals that could have been issued from God’s own heart? It might just be that the UN has played the role of prophet in their challenge to the world to:
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Reduce child mortality
- Improve maternal health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Develop a global partnership for development
These goals could truly change the world. If we, for a moment, allow ourselves to believe that change is possible, we might also become agents for that change. Edmund Burke once said that there was no one as foolish as the person who thought they could not change the world because they could only change a little. The Millennium Development Goals may seem like an impossible mountain to climb, but for Christians they provide an opportunity to pray, to serve and to act.
Pray.
These goals are not attainable by human effort alone. In September 2005, Gordon Brown commented that on then current trends, the MDG’s would take 100 years to honour. (For more information see http://www.ippr.org/pressreleases/archive.asp?id=816&fID=61) And according to the World Bank, the cost of achieving the MDG’s will be between $40 billion and $60 billion a year. (For more information see www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/mdgassessment.pdf) In human terms, these are just not going to happen. But what if God is in this? What if he has presented his people with an opportunity to pray change into the world? It is certainly in keeping with his will and plan for the world that pain, disease and despair are eradicated. Is that not at least part of what we pray for when we ask God that His Kingdom might come, His will might be done?
In prayer, we open ourselves to God's priority, especially His charge to feed the hungry, to reach out to the poor, to bring aid to the widow or the orphan. By surrendering our will to God's will, we learn to serve His eternal purposes. Through prayer, our faith is strengthened, our hearts are humbled and our lives are transformed. Prayer encourages us to go out into the world and serve.
(George W. Bush, welcome to the National Prayer Breakfast, 2nd February 2006, Washington D.C.)
The MDG’s present us with a remarkable opportunity to pray for the broken, the poor and the oppressed. But in praying, they present us with an opportunity to do something – not just something that will bring change on the other side of the world, but something that will bring change in our own communities, on our own doorsteps, in our own lifetime.
Serve
Poverty is close at hand. It lurks behind closed doors in Britain. We see it in faces that look like our own. Despite the government’s valiant efforts, hundreds of thousands of children in the UK still live in poverty. The challenge to the church is not just to pray, tick a box and think we have played our part. It is to be committed to eradicating poverty and fighting marginalisation in our own communities and in our own streets as well as on the other side of the world. Of course we must pray, and give. But we must look at the MDG’s as something more than a programme, a project or a pet morality crusade.
These goals bite at us. They are the unfulfilled promises and obligations that reach out hungry hands to those of us who have so much. They are the eyes of abandonment that ask us why we do so little. They are the cry of the mother at a graveside as she buries her young child; they are the silent emptiness of abandonment felt in the heart of the child who has buried his mother. They are the impossible longings of the might have been that spring from so many young women whose potential was dashed and hope crushed because nobody cared enough to act. We must each choose to do something:
One of the wonderful things is how God depends on all of us, which is actually mind boggling because here you have God who is omnipotent and yet waits on human creatures to be God’s partners and collaborators. Each one of us has a contribution, each and every one of us.
(Archbishop Desmond Tutu)
These goals call us to act. They call us to do something in our churches, in our communities and in our consciences that is a commitment to not only demanding an answer, but to being part of the answer ourselves.
Act
Lastly, the MDG’s call us to act. To do something. To make a noise. To say enough is enough. This is not just a case of filling in a postcard and sending it to a politician. It is about that, of course, but it is about so much more. It is about recognising our shared humanity across this planet and being committed to being the change we want to see, then seeing the change we want to happen. This task demands our hearts, and our lives, but it is worth it.
The hope of a secure and liveable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.
(Martin Luther King Jr.)
We must act because justice lies at the heart of God and justice should matter to us. Augustine once said that charity is never a substitute for justice withheld. In all of our serving and praying, we must remember the command to act justly.
Explore, commit and do.
Over the course of a series of articles, I want to explore the spiritual and theological significance of each of the Millennium Development Goals. I want to think out loud with you and ask some key questions, questions like:
· What does the bible have to say about this issue?
· How can I pray sensibly about this?
· What can I do to make a difference about this personally?
· How can I act in solidarity with others?
The journey may not be comfortable - but the best journeys are worth making because they take us to places where we have not been. Perhaps by engaging in this issue we will feel the touch of He who was hungry. Perhaps we will hear the voice of the One who has no clothes or shelter or home? Maybe the MDG’s can be God’s vehicle to change us as much as they are his means of changing the world.
Change starts right here…
What do yu think? I am proud to be one of the Directors of Micah Challenge UK - take a look www.michachallenge.org.uk
©Malcolm Duncan
The Work Goes On
After a busy week and very strong engagement with the press and media, my work in leading the Faithworks continues, and the day to day work of serving churches and helping them to engage in serving all people unconditionally goes on. Although this weekend will see a whole spattering of BBC interviews (a dozen for radio stations across the country and one for Radio 4's Sunday programme) around the issues of the SOR's, it is important for me to remind myself and for the whole Faithworks Movement to remember that our job is to keep focused and to keep going in our commitment to service, professionalism and excellence and distinctive Christian spirituality and faith.
I want to thank the many, many people who have sent me messages of support, love and affirmation this week and encourage you to demonstrate your wonderful grace not only to me but to those fellow Christians who hold a different view on the SOR's. It would be such a shame if we met our fellow believers with anger and resentment whilst encouraging love and grace to others. That would contradict the very thing for which I think we should stand.
Whislt I have been caught up with the SOR's this week, I have also been really encouraged by the increasing recognition of the positive role of faith communities and of the Christian faith in community cohesion and development.
Tomorrow I get my hands on a keyboard again as I continue working on my next book - Kingdom Come. So if you have any stories to tell of how you are engaging in serving your community for Christ then let me know - maybe I can feature you in the book if you are interested.
Faithworks continues to grow and develop, with nearly 20,000 signed up members and I thank God for that. Maybe this current wave of speaking out will also lead to others signing up and becoming part of what is a fantastic bunch of people who love God and other people. Whatever you do to celebrate and demonstrate God's love for the world, keep going! Let me know what you do in your community and how we can best serve people on the ground. And if you hear me on the radio this weekend, then let me know what you think! Here's when I will be on air on Sunday. Encourage others to listen and get behind the Faithworks Movement.
- 7am BBC Cambridge
- 710AM BBC Derby
- 720AM BBC Notts
- 730AM BBC Jersey
- 740AM BBC Leicestershire
- 750AM BBC Northants
- 8AM BBC Oxfordshire
- 810AM 3 Counties Radio
- 820AM BBC Berkshire
- 830AM BBC Bristol
- 840AM BBC Oxford
- 850AM BBC Cumbria
And the Sunday Programme on Radio 4.
Why I spoke out
Earlier this week we made the decision to engage in the debate around the Sexual Orientation Regulations, in the light of the protest outside the House of Lords on Tuesday night (9th January). It is important to explain to you what we did and why we did it.
When consultation on the proposed legislation took place earlier in 2006, we welcomed the SORs as an attempt to ensure goods and services are delivered inclusively and in non-discriminatory ways.
We released a statement to the press on Monday, voicing our concern at the aggressive and virulent approach that some parts of the Church appeared to be taking on the issue. I appeared on various news programmes and websites the following day, including BBC News 24 and News at Ten, and also went down to observe the rally outside Parliament, and to talk to some of the people down there. Since then, other Christian leaders have spoken out to agree with our views.
This is why we did what we did:
The SORs are designed to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the delivery of goods, facilities and services. Our engagement with this issue sits firmly within our stated aims and objectives, which are:
To empower and inspire individual Christians and local churches to develop their role at the hub of their community.
To challenge and change the public perception of the Church by engaging with media and government.
To encourage unity and partnership, to meet the needs of local communities.
The tone and context of our engagement reflects the ongoing position of Faithworks. We seek to be distinctively Christian, and enable our members to engage positively with their communities.
We celebrate the different contributions and views of the whole Christian church to the issue of human sexuality. We believe that our approach to the SORs and to Equality & Diversity legislation, which focuses on human dignity and unconditional service, allows for distinctive Christian views of sexuality while encouraging unconditional love and service. This is the Jesus model.
Christians are called to follow Jesus’ example, and he says remarkably little about sexuality in scripture. Rather, he treats all people he comes across with love and acceptance, and does not refuse his service to anyone, even if he does not agree with their lifestyle.
We encourage our members, and all those of Christian faith, to follow Jesus’ example, and to serve all people, regardless of their lifestyle, by expressing welcome and recognising the dignity of every human being. We believe that a strong sense of Christian identity and purpose enables the Church to provide goods and services in a non-discriminatory way, without that identity being diminished.
The Faithworks Charter expresses our commitment to the equal value of all people, setting out 15 high quality standards for the delivery of public services, including non-discriminatory delivery.
Having seen the rally outside parliament for ourselves, we are concerned that the tone of the debate has become aggressive and virulent, creating an unattractive witness. We call on the Church to reposition itself in a more confident and compassionate way. This is an opportunity to demonstrate positive Christian faith in action, rather than to build a fortress mentality.
The Church is not called to judge the world but to serve all people with a clear commitment to the values and example of Christ.
Actions speak louder than words
Yesterday (9th January) I spent the day being interviewed and discussing my position on the Sexual Orientation Regulations. Last night, I quietly slipped down to Westminster to watch what was happening at a rally organised by the Lawyers Christian Fellowship and others to coincide with a debate taking place in the House of Lords around an amendment intrdouced by Lord Morrow. Had it been supported, the Amendment would have meant that the SOR's, introduced in Ireland on Jan 1 would not have been introduced across the rest of the UK in April without the addition of a 'conscience clause'.
I want to comment on both the defeat of the amendment in the Lords (by a whacking majority of 3-1) and on the tenor of the discussion and demonstration yesterday.
Firstly, the defeat should not be feared by Christians. There will be more said on the actually SOR's here in the course of the day, but they fit firmly within the context of wider legislation around equality, diversity and the provision of goods and services. Exemptions and protections have already been won, and those interested in the actual facts of the SOR's should endeavour to read through the detail of the legislation and debate around it rather than the interpretation of the legislation as presented by groups such as the LCF.
The church's distinctiveness, identity, ethos and values are not threatened by this piece of legislation. Instead, we should see this as an opportunity to engage positively, compassionately and graciously with others. Sexuality is not the means by which we should define people. It is part of what makes a person, but it is not the sum total of their personhood. Whether someone is gay or straight does not change the inherent biblical principle that they are made in the image of God. We respect that image in all people and are committed to serving. That does not mean that we endorse lifestyle choices or agree with decisions, but we respect personhood. To love a human being means to offer them shelter. not to offer them shelter with conditions. No doubt those who opposed the SORS will continue their fight - and will describe last nights decision as a step in the wrong direction, an eradication of our Christian foundations etc. I disagree. Last night's decision recognises the rights and obligations of people in Britain to be non-discriminatory and fair. It might just have been a moment of liberty and freedom rather than a nail in the coffin. The challenge for me as a Christian is to understand the legislation and to work out how we engage with those who are different, serving unconditionally but remaining true to the values and example of Christ. That might be hard - but a relevant and credible gospel and church must begin with three fundamental commitments. Faithfulness to God, unconditional love and service of others and a willingness to speak the truth in love out of a relationship of trust, respect and humility.
Secondly, the demonstration itself. About three thousand people turned up - about halfthat expected. Many of those protesting are my brothers and sisters in Christ and I have an obligation to love and serve and respect them also. I am committed to doing that. I acknowledge your right to protest, I understand your passion on this issue, and I share your concerns around distinctiveness and Christian values. However, I disagree with your methodology. In what way was it Christ like? Young children involved in a protest they could not possibly understand. Chants which at times sounded threatening intermingled with hymns and songs of praise. Political figures from Northern Ireland inciting strong anti-gay sentiment by their words and their actions. Banners which linked homosexulaity to child abuse? Aggresive accusations levelled at me and others. Confrontational dialogue with a few people who were there to exercise their right to demonstrate. Leaders of the demonstration donning orange jumpsuits to make politcal and press headlines out of the inhumane treatment of inmates at Guantanamo Bay. And all of this in the name of Christians and in the name of God?
If judgement and challenge are important for us as Christians, then according to both Jesus in Matthew's Gospel and Paul in the book of Corinthians, we must be careful to hold one another accountable. So I ask the organisers and the demonstrators last night, as your brother, to think again about the message and methodology of their actions. They did not represent me, they did not represent the vast majority of people in the church, and they cannot claim to be the Christian voice on this issue because there is no such thing as one Christian voice on this issue.
Be careful of planks of wood before you point out pieces of sawdust