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St Mary the Virgin Clergy Letter June 2011
I keep hearing a great deal about the “Big Society”. Now call me suspicious, but I think that from what I’m hearing
the whole idea is to replace our costly and hard worked for welfare state, underpinned as it is with properly managed
and publicly funded adequate resources, with charity and voluntary resources.
Where does the church stand in all of this?
I’m much taken with the idea that Christians are called not so much to work for a “Big Society” as for a “Good Society”.
The terms “Church” and “Good Society” in this sense might be interchangeable.
In fact I think there is a case for Christians to consider jettisoning the term ”Church” for something like “Good Society”.
I was talking recently to a local politician who told me that what motivated him was his passion for a better society.
It was his view that Churches had in the main lost this passion. He continued to feel that the values and vision of the
Bible were central to his life but as he felt the churches had departed from his “ultimate concern” he could not really
be a member of any church.
He still liked to sing hymns in church- but they did not inspire him to want to change the world- they gave him the same
feeling that you got when you joined in the communal singing at a football – nothing more.
I think I know where he is coming from. And yet - and yet…. I’m convinced that our Church is called into being by God to
be one way that through partnership with Him its members can make real God’s vision of the “Good Society”.
And I know that this vision of the Good Society is taking real shape throughout our city and diocese- even though
the fact remains that the church is just one way that the slow secret growth of the Kingdom comes about.
But God’s vision of the “Good Society” is everywhere being made real- in our community – for example in our hospitals
and schools where anyone works to serve their needy neighbour with love.
My hope for our Churches in Middleton and especially St Mary’s following the example of our patron is that we’ll follow
Mary’s example and say an unconditional “yes” to God –that we’ll be bold in throwing open the doors of our churches to
everyone who needs our love.
How are we going to do this- what shape will this take? That’s down to each one of us to decide. But I kind of think
that it will only happen if we grow in depth and compassion and love- then everything else will follow from this sure
foundation.
Every blessing - Andy
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