This is my Spiritual Life column about the Big Society which was published in yesterday's Ilford Recorder:
Recently I attended a conference on what the Big Society might mean for the Church, where I heard Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, state that he is a big fan of the Big Society. As the Big Society is viewed as David Cameron’s big idea this was a surprising statement for a Labour MP to make, so what were some of the factors that led to this position?
He began with his Irish Catholic, working class, Labour background, which gave him a communitarian disposition. Communitarianism is about balancing individual rights with the interests of the community as a whole and it developed, in the twentieth century, from the Catholic Workers Movement. As a result, the Big Society is not new and has a significant Catholic heritage on which we can draw.
Next, was the example that the Church has provided in his constituency during a period of considerable change. There, the Church has played a central role by holding the line in the tensions of change; tensions which saw far-right councillors elected and then defeated in subsequent local elections. The Church in this situation acted as a just institution enabling the release of virtue and supporting human flourishing.
These thoughts about the Big Society provide a viable alternative to the selfishness inherent in our market-led consumerism and the over-heavy control of the ‘nanny’ state. They suggest that there is a different way of living and being socially; that life is more than earning and spending.
That certainly doesn’t mean that all is well now. Where the axe of cuts is currently falling makes the Big Society less likely. People in our community are struggling because of the withdrawal of 'safety nets'; the least well off are paying the price for the recession.
It doesn’t have to be like that, however. Successful community campaigns in this borough show that people of all faiths and none care deeply about what happens to this borough and the likely effects of cuts in Council services. Jon Cruddas quoted Oscar Romero who said, "Aspire not to have more but to be more." Maybe if we all thought like that, the Big Society could become the cornerstone of a new politics and the new centre ground.
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Eddie and the Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do.
Showing posts with label cruddas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cruddas. Show all posts
Friday, 25 February 2011
Sunday, 30 January 2011
The Big Society
Last week Paul Trathen and I were at the Big Society – what does it mean for the Church? conference on 'The Big Society' organised by the London Churches Group, Mission in London’s Economy and the Diocese of Southwark Public Policy Group.
We began with some excellent input and debate from Andrew Stunnell, Jon Cruddas and Debra Allcock Tyler. Jon Cruddas was, as is usually the case, particularly good value. He supported several initiatives with which I was involved in Barking & Dagenham, including the launch of the Faith Forum. More recently, of course, was the General Election campaign in the borough and in his remarks he paid tribute to the involvement of the churches in the Hope not Hate campaign which contributed to the defeat of the BNP.
These are some highlights from what he said:
We began with some excellent input and debate from Andrew Stunnell, Jon Cruddas and Debra Allcock Tyler. Jon Cruddas was, as is usually the case, particularly good value. He supported several initiatives with which I was involved in Barking & Dagenham, including the launch of the Faith Forum. More recently, of course, was the General Election campaign in the borough and in his remarks he paid tribute to the involvement of the churches in the Hope not Hate campaign which contributed to the defeat of the BNP.
These are some highlights from what he said:
- Big fan of the Big Society which could become the cornerstone of a new politics; the new centre ground? But a somewhat elusive concept.
- Irish Catholic, working class, Labour background -communitarian disposition. Therefore, Big Society not new.
- Change in Dagenham. Church has been central - held the line in tensions of change.
- Big Society - sphere between ineffective markets and over-heavy state. Notion of 'good' society fundamental critique of market-led economy. More than earning and money.
- Big Society - critique of statism. Labour has become statist and secular as opposed to being, in Dylan Thomas' phrase, "parochial and magical".
- Aristotle spoke about the release of virtue - just institutions that allow human flourishing.
- People in the community are currently struggling because of the withdrawal of 'safety nets'. the least well off are paying the price for the recession. Where the axe is falling is making the Big Society less likely.
- This is a radical Government, although I disagree with their decisions. It could be a vehicle for ther unfinished business of the Thatcher era. An exercise in economic and cultural disenfranchisement.
- "Aspire not to have more but to be more." - Oscar Romero.
Staple Singers - Reach Out, Touch A Hand, Make A Friend.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Mixing Church & Politics (2)
Yesterday the Bishop of Barking (with Anglican and Ecumenical partners) hosted a seminar for church leaders on encouraging vocations to public life and political office entitled Mixing Church and Politics.
This was a well attended event at Westminster which saw politicians and political activists from each of the main parties speak passionately about the faith motivations for their political careers. These ranged from the influence of Catholic social teaching to Evangelical urban missions.
Stephen Timms equated Wilberforce’s campaign for the abolition of slavery with the Church’s involvement in the Jubilee 2000 and Make Poverty History campaigns. Jon Cruddas commended the attempts by Rowan Williams and Vincent Nicholls to change the language of political discourse and to re-emphasise the significance of ‘virtue’. In addition to contributions from Simon Hughes and David Burrowes, Caroline Alabi and Sister Josephine Caddy spoke about their involvements in the Hope not Hate and London Citizens campaigns respectively.
Bishop David has said, "After the past eighteen months confidence in political life in our country has reached an all time low. The Christian community needs to take responsibility in calling out vocations to public life and supporting politicians in this high Christian calling."
The evening saw my continued engagement with local politics as, together with Tom Platt of Living Streets, I presented the Community Street Audit report prepared by the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Resident's Association to the Area 7 Committee in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Our report highlights issues of traffic speeds, pavement parking, damaged paving, renewal of signage, litter, and seating in public areas along Aldborough Road South. We are calling for greater enforcement of the 20mph speed limit; traffic calming measures; a review of parking in the whole area; and additional signage to local amenities. Alongside these requests, we are offering to help fund new public seating and to organise community events to clean up the area and promote pride in the upkeep of front gardens.
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Runrig - City Of Lights / Dance Called America.
This was a well attended event at Westminster which saw politicians and political activists from each of the main parties speak passionately about the faith motivations for their political careers. These ranged from the influence of Catholic social teaching to Evangelical urban missions.
Stephen Timms equated Wilberforce’s campaign for the abolition of slavery with the Church’s involvement in the Jubilee 2000 and Make Poverty History campaigns. Jon Cruddas commended the attempts by Rowan Williams and Vincent Nicholls to change the language of political discourse and to re-emphasise the significance of ‘virtue’. In addition to contributions from Simon Hughes and David Burrowes, Caroline Alabi and Sister Josephine Caddy spoke about their involvements in the Hope not Hate and London Citizens campaigns respectively.
Bishop David has said, "After the past eighteen months confidence in political life in our country has reached an all time low. The Christian community needs to take responsibility in calling out vocations to public life and supporting politicians in this high Christian calling."
The evening saw my continued engagement with local politics as, together with Tom Platt of Living Streets, I presented the Community Street Audit report prepared by the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Resident's Association to the Area 7 Committee in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Our report highlights issues of traffic speeds, pavement parking, damaged paving, renewal of signage, litter, and seating in public areas along Aldborough Road South. We are calling for greater enforcement of the 20mph speed limit; traffic calming measures; a review of parking in the whole area; and additional signage to local amenities. Alongside these requests, we are offering to help fund new public seating and to organise community events to clean up the area and promote pride in the upkeep of front gardens.
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Runrig - City Of Lights / Dance Called America.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Mixing Church & Politics
The Bishop of Barking (with Anglican and Ecumenical partners) is to host a seminar for church leaders on encouraging vocations to public life and political office entitled Mixing Church and Politics at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, SW1H 9NH on Tuesday 20th July from 10am to 2pm. The details of this free seminar are as follows:
10am-10.30am – Registration (entrance free)
THE ISSUE:
10.30am-10.45am - Opening address by Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking
10.45am-11am - "Traditions of Christian engagement with politics", Revd Dr John Perumbalath
THEOLOGICAL INPUT
11am-11.30am - Bible Study with group work - Dave Landrum, Bible Society Parliamentary Officer
11.30am-Noon - “Seeing Politics as a Christian Vocation”, Revd Dr Margaret Joachim
FURTHER REFLECTIONS
Noon-12.30pm - informal reflection over lunch (provided)
12.30pm-1.10pm – Questions to a panel including representatives from the main three political parties (inc Jon Cruddas) plus Jonathan Bartley (of Ekklesia), Caroline Alabi (of Hope not Hate) and Sister Josephine Canny (of London Citizens)
NEXT STEPS
1.10pm - Group discussion and plenary on identifying actions for the future
1.40pm - Closing reflections and devotions led by Bishop David
2pm - Close
To register or for more information, contact: Father Steven Saxby, St Barnabas Vicarage, St Barnabas Rd, E17 8JZ; stevensaxby@btinternet.com; Tel: 020 8520 5323.
"After the past eighteen months confidence in political life in our country has reached an all time
low. The Christian community needs to take responsibility in calling out vocations to public life and supporting politicians in this high Christian calling." Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking.
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Paul Weller - Wake Up The Nation.
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