State 'blind spot on faith'

THE GOVERNMENT is failing to understand how Christian groups could benefit society, a new study claims.

 

The research was carried out by the Von HŸgel Institute, an academic research centre and think tank at St Edmund's College, Cambridge which published its report Moral, But No Compass on Monday.

 

It was commissioned by the Rt Revd Stephen Lowe, the Church of England's urban bishop, after the Church was encouraged to become engaged in welfare delivery.

 

However, its findings are relevant to different denominations and faith groups.

 

The title is a twist on Gordon Brown's claim to have a moral compass, and while the report does not suggest a lack of moral purpose, it accuses the Government of 'planning blind and failing parts of civil society' when it comes to faith communities in general, and aspects of charity law and social policy in particular.

 

It calls on the creation of a ministerial post to oversee religion, social cohesion and voluntary action, and additional funds for researching the contribution faith groups are making.

 

With a fresh dialogue between the Government and the Church, supported by new research and a commitment on the part of both to mobilise resources, there could be 'inventive new work alongside the poorest and neediest in the UK and abroad', the report concludes.

 

The Revd Graham Sparkes, the head of faith and unity at the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said, 'Better understanding between church and government is a vital issue, and I look forward to studying the full report as it undoubtedly has important things to say.' But the Joint Public Issues team (consisting of the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the BUGB) was not consulted, and Mr Sparkes criticised the report's authors for 'limited consultation' with ecumenical partners.

 

The researchers involved interviewees from politics, churches, other faiths, the civil service and the voluntary sector.

 

They found 'huge gaps in Government evidence about faith communities in general, and the Churches in particular'.

 

The Charity Commission's data and systems of classification were found to be 'very weak', with the result that the Government is 'fundamentally underestimating the number of Christian charities to the tune of thousands', and consequently their social, economic and civic impact and potential.

 

But in addition, the Church is also lacking in adequate information about its activities, the report's authors, and Bishop Lowe, stated.

The researchers found congregations, clergy and volunteers 'running post offices and cafŽs, doctors' surgeries and asylum rights centres, homeless outreach and bereavement counselling, job creation and economic regeneration programmes, eco initiatives and youth clubs, peace networks and third world solidarity groups'.

 

'Bearing all of this in mind,' say the authors, 'it is unsurprising that our respondents in the Church and Parliament, from the regions to London, in business and academia, told us that a fresh dialogue was needed.

'Such a fresh conversation... could lead to inventive new work alongside the poorest and neediest in the UK and abroad.'

 

But the report's findings were challenged by communities secretary Hazel Blears as 'an unfair attack on the Government'.

 

Ms Blears said, 'The Government recognises and welcomes the great contribution made by people motivated by their different faiths and our new inter-faith strategy, to be published in July, will set out further our commitments on this important agenda.

 

'In addition, we will be looking at the important role of faith groups, including Britain's churches, in our forthcoming white paper on community empowerment.'

 

Faithworks, a national movement of Christians committed to community work and founded by the Revd Steve Chalke, was one of the organisations consulted and highlighted in the report.

 

The organisation published the findings of its own two-year study this week, into the impact of 19 Christian community projects in Yorkshire (see p. 2)

 

Its leader Malcolm Duncan and other Faithworks members were set to meet Mr Brown on Thursday.

 

The event will mark the launch of a Labour Party consultation with faith groups.

 

Mr Duncan told The Baptist Times, 'We should welcome this report.

'It shows the institutions of the Government and the Church need to have better communication with each other.

 

'The Government has made huge steps in celebrating the work of faith communities, but there is still more to do.'