'Society is ours to build'
Helping churches bring people together to explore the future of the UK after the European Referendum is the focus of the latest resource from the Joint Public Issues Team
Conversation Welcome invites participants to discuss the question – what kind of society should we be seeking to create?
It aims to provide a framework to allow people who may hold very different views to talk, listen and learn from each other.
‘Few would argue that many of the claims and counter-claims about the impact of Brexit have become somewhat exaggerated,’ said Baptist minister Phil Jump, interim Public Issues co-ordinator and one of the contributors to Conversation Welcome.
‘There is a very real risk that in this climate, a belief emerges that the future wellbeing of our nations depends solely on whether or not we are members of the EU, or the terms on which our departure is negotiated.
‘The simple truth is that as local citizens and communities, we can make a significant difference to our local communities, irrespective of the political backdrops that may exist.
‘Conversation Welcome seeks to build on this reality by offering to local churches a resource to help bring local people together to share their hopes and dreams, encouraging them to work together for these to become a reality.’
This resource has been designed to be flexible and can be used in a variety of settings from small groups to larger gatherings.
There are four questions to explore:
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What kind of society do we want for future generations?
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How should we treat others?
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How should we use our resources?
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How should we make decisions?
The pack contains prayers and reflections that can be used and adapted. There are also suggestions on how to ensure that all participants are heard, and the conversations are constructive and respectful. Videos around each of the topics have also been prepared.
Conversation Welcome also builds on narratives of the Old Testament.
‘Arrival in the land of Canaan was clearly a political watershed in the national life of Israel,’ Phil explained. ‘But while it may have created the climate in which a new expression of nationhood could emerge, the wellbeing of that nation depended on establishing and living out those principles of righteousness and justice that the law books embody.
‘This seems like an important time in the life of our own nation to recognise that “Brexit” can only ever be half of the story. Society is ours to build, and at a time when so much needs to be re-negotiated and re-affirmed, it is particularly vital that the narratives of God’s kingdom are clearly and tirelessly articulated in the public square.
‘Conversation Welcome is offered as a key catalyst in helping this to become reality.’
A one-day workshop to introduce Conversation Welcome takes place on 27 April at Queens Road Baptist Church, Coventry, to which all are invited. More details will be shared at: www.jointpublicissues.org.uk
Baptist Times, 28/03/2017