November 2019 

Re: Business and the Kingdom

I was delighted to see Roques' article about 'Business and the Kingdom' in the recent Baptist Times, as many Christians work in business but struggle to see how it connects to their faith. I hope many will be encouraged to reflect prayerfully and imaginatively about how they can contribute to restoring this area of life in the name of Jesus our Creator and Redeemer.
Anne Burghgraef

Great article by Mark Roques on the business conference in Leeds.
Mark Yeadon

Good to see Roques' article on this conference.  Important to do this stuff.  
Business can choose whether it wants to be for shareholders only, or a force for good in our world, capable of solving our problems with imagination, effectiveness and economy.  Let's pray Christians in business aren't simply serving shareholders, or themselves, but have the courage and skill to deal with the big issues facing us!
Cal Bailey

 

Re: Have we lost our dissenting roots?

Although my marching days are long gone - memories of regularly joining CND marches from my home in Clydebank - I am beginning to question how effective marches and demonstrations actually are. We have had so many marches over recent years that haven't achieved what they set out to do - and indeed neither has CND! It really has made me think, how do we change the status quo?

Although my heart is very much with Extinction Rebellion, I just wonder if they are really achieving any change at all. We must get Government to recognise that climate change is real, needing immediate action and not just accept their fine words. One just needs to look at the situation in India, USA, Malaysia, China, Brazil and so many other countries for example.  What are XR doing about these huge polluters?

Is stopping ordinary folks form getting to work, some of whom are on zero hours with young children to feed, or who risk losing their jobs if they don't turn up in low paid shop work; stopping public transport which surely we should be advocating; and leaving the mess behind that they did in Trafalgar Square,(I was horrified to see what XR left, including plastic - all for others to clean up); the right way to go about it?

Talking to friends here in Cardiff who couldn't get to their workplaces and friends in London who were late for work and docked pay, XR are losing support from many ordinary working people who actually agree in principal with doing something about climate change. I wonder too, don't these ER demonstrators have their own work to go? Maybe they are wealthy enough to take time off and still be able to pay rent/mortgage and feed their families. Many, many people need to work every hour they can just to live. They can't take time off for demonstrating.

Why weren't they disrupting Parliament, causing problems to whatever PM is in power. Making their voices heard and life uncomfortable for our lawmakers? Surely the huge changes that need to be made will be enacted in law, not stopping ordinary folks, many of whom support XR in their ultimate aims, but who are now getting thoroughly fed up with not being able to go about their daily business.

So come on folks, let's have some creative thinking on how we can change the policy makers minds, not antagonising ordinary citizens and causing hardship. What about all the film stars, pop stars and politicians who zoom all over the world with alacrity? I don't see XR targeting them. Not Mrs Jones who has her rent to pay and feed her kids out of her meagre wages as a hairdresser, having to take the Tube to work.

What is the BU doing to lobby our rulers and those in other countries? Where have our radical roots as a denomination gone?
Moira Kleissner