Faith and Public Issues Commission
Mission statement: We seek to offer the distinctive Unitarian and Free Christian perspectives on matters relating to the arenas of ecumenical, interfaith and social action engagement, and in turn, inform and stimulate thought and action on these same subjects within the General Assembly.
The members of the commission have met four times in the past year. One meeting was a residential gathering, involving an overnight stay at Luther King House, Manchester. Rev Wyn Thomas joined the commission in July 2008. His membership reflects his interest in and contribution to the ecumenical and interfaith sectors in Wales, and brings a necessary Welsh perspective to the work of the commission.
A considerable portion of the commission's work is to ensure that representatives of the General Assembly attend meetings, conferences and special events of relevant ecumenical, inter faith and social action bodies. In addition to Commission members attending such events, David Warhurst liaises with Liberty, Rev Jean McNeile sits on the Spirituality Group of Churches Together in England, and Rev Dr Ann Peart is a member of the Ecumenical Strategy Group for Ministerial Training. In this past year, the commission was able to reaffirm the General Assembly's membership of and contributions to (among others) the following organisations: Church Action on Poverty, Christian Aid, Christian Ecology Link, Interfaith Network Forum, Jubilee Debt Campaign, One World Week, United Nations Association, World Disarmament Campaign and Trade Justice Movement.
A banner was produced for general use by all
GA congregations, district associations and
affiliated societies for public demonstrations,
events and worship. It reads: "Unitarians
Celebrate the Diversity of Creation!" It also
contains the GA website. This is now
available for use through Essex Hall.
For more details about the banner click here.
The commission has sought to maintain a relationship with the emerging network of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered persons in the General Assembly, and offers funding for appropriate projects in this sphere. The commission continued its second year of working in tandem with the Denominational Support Commission to develop a denominational project on the subject of “Radical Hospitality.” This explores the issue of prejudice, and encourages our church communities to be more aware of the overt and 'hidden' messages that members and visitors receive. At the Annual Meetings of 2009, a presentation on this subject will take place, and will be offered by members of the LDPA Growth Group working party. In response to the request of some voices within the General Assembly to consider the re-appointment of a full-time Social Responsibility Officer, or its equivalent, the commission devoted considerable reflection to the subject, and referred its recommendations to the Executive Committee. Its initial request that a part time, voluntary officer (with an honorarium) be appointed was rejected, as this would have created an employee/employer relationship. No further recommendations of a voluntary position were made. The Commission then concluded that under the existing structures of the General Assembly, the collective work of the members on social responsibility matters sufficiently addresses the tasks and projects that would be conducted by a single officer. This will be monitored closely in the year to come.
Particular thanks must be given to those individuals whose ancillary support of the commission´s work namely: John Crosskey, Steve Dick, Fenella Fyle, Howard Hague, Mary- Jean Hennis, Audrey Longhurst, Andrew Mason, Rosemary Ruston and Peter Teets. Their guidance and support are deeply appreciated.
