An inspirational Advent Creed

This morning at Torrington Methodist ChurchI used the Advent creed below which comes from the inspirational Jesuit priest and peace activist Daniel Berrigan. Many people found it helpful and even inspirational so I share it with you

It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—
This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—
This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—
This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—
This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—
This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.

It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—
This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.

So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ—the life of the world.

Evening thoughts on suffering

Tonight has been one of those nights in which I've spent time with someone going through great pain. He is a man whom I like very much and yet somehow his faith gives me heart in the situation.

This is not an unusual situation. In ministry I have seen much of the painful side of life. Occasionally it has been young people which is heartbreaking. Yet to me there is a similar sense of sorrow in those occasions where people who have lived good lives find the final chapter full of pain.

I cannot in honesty make any real sense of suffering. At times I ask the age old question of why a loving God can allow so much unjustified suffering. And as we learn from the example of Job, suffering is often both unfairly distributed and devoid of beneficial effects.

It is not just a question regarding illnesses that attack the body. Our planet whilst often source of pleasure has the capacity to wreak havoc in our lives. Earthquakes, volcanoes and mighty hurricanes all create a legacy of chaos and destruction. And then there are the times when crops fail and children amongst others go hungry.

Now I do not believe for one moment that God is the author of these things although there were for example those who after 9/11 who claimed the tragedy was a judgement on American moral permissiveness. Equally after the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka and other places there were voices that claimed that through it God had made a point through allegedly less Christians than those of other faiths being killed. But this is bunkum theology. the fact is that if God was the author of these things, God would be a force of darkness. Surely this cannot be the case with the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And yet we ask the question as to why God does not intervene when bad things happen to people. At university I studies Christian and Jewish responses to the Holocaust. Now the Holocaust was a dreadful eveil in which a people were slaughtered simply for being. It is I think the ultimate example of radical evil. And how it tests the faith of those of us who believe that God was first revealed to the Jewish people and continues to love them dearly. Against that how does one face the silence of God. It certainly challenges how we see the "almightyness" of God. It raises the question of God in some way being limited in action.

Too often we talk glibly about a perfect creation. I am not convinced that this is biblical. Creation is good - yes! But perfect - surely that is a step too far! to believe otherwise is to deny the testomony of our eyes and ears. It is to bury our heads in the sand.

I do not have an answer to the question of suffering. To pretend to have one is just insensitive and cruel. I recognise that life is just not fair.

And yet I do not want to leave the matter there. Whilst we have no glib answers I believe that in the face of suffering there is a calling to us as followers of the Jesus who himself both suffered and addressed the suffering of others. Our calling is not to the escapism of some rather sentimental hymns. It is to be with people in their times of need.

In the past few weeks I have been privileged to spend time at both hospice and hospital. In such places I have seen great human kindness and the spirit of Christ even in those who would not recognise Christ as their inspiration. we see it in those who work with people with learning or physical disabilities. We see the same in aid workers and amongst those who work with the poor.

So whilst we have a shortage of answers as to the whys of suffering, perhaps we are best off moving from the speculative in the direction of being those who do our bit to help those who suffer and accordingly do our bit to heal the world. For to do so is to follow the way of Jesus.

Kicking refuges out of homes is also violence against Jesus

I am not sure that we are country that takes Jesus seriously. Certainly judging from this post by Ian Galloway who is the Church and Society Convenor of the Church of Scotland, we are in denial as to the Christ who has nowhere to lay his head or the Christ who as a child is forced to fell into exile.

I am very distressed at the decision of the UK Border Agency to relocate 600 refugee households. This decision has apparently been takes as a result of the termination of the contract with Glasgow City Council to house these people.


Letters have apparently been sent to 600 households advising them that they will be given 3-5 days notice to move from their homes. Each household will be allowed to take two pieces of luggage per person, plus baby equipment, children’s toys and disability aids. This action will effectively mean the potential removal at extremely short notice of 1,311 people from their current homes to undisclosed destinations within Scotland.

From a psychological perspective, this action can have devastating effects on people who are already very vulnerable. It will also affect children who will have to be taken away from their school, their friends and their local connections. Many of these people have already had to suffer forced, sometimes violent uprooting, fleeing their countries through fear for their lives. Another forced uprooting can have dire consequences. Refugee families and their children are not objects that can be stashed or shifter about at the stroke of a pen. They are human beings and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect irrespective of the place where they happened to be born.

Positive Action in Housing has written to the Prime Minister asking him to intervene in the negotiations between Glasgow City council and the UKL Border Agency. The Kirk is entirely in support of this action. Moreover, as a minister within a community which is working actively with asylum seekers, I encourage everyone to be present at the protest which will take place on Brand Street in Govan the 20th of November supporting the refugees against this appalling action.

Let's face the truth. As a nation we have the outward appearance of Chritsianity but the reality denies it. So what are we going to do about it?

Random act of culture - Hallelujah Chorus

Enjoy!

Olives and the conflict between the children of Abraham

Just to recommend this sensitive post by the excellent John Cooper which takes us into the heart of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.

One day theyhad better live together and share the resources of the land or they will die together with many others. Time for peace!

What would Jesus cut?

Good answer from Jonathan Bartley. Go and read it!

Cuts are nuts

I thought I'd include this account of last night's "Tough Choices" meeting organised by Devon County Council. As with the previous week's such meeting at Barnstaple we leafleted as many as posiible of the audience.

The meeting yielded little light. It is clear that Devon County Council's rul9ing groups support the cuts all the way. Equally some of us will oppose them. My contribution is mentioned in the report as are a splendid group of pupils from Bideford College.

I am sad that there are those who think cuts will somehow solve our problems when the reality is that as in Ireland they will fail to do so. The reallity is that they threatend the basis of a welfare society which became a consensus after 1945. The human effect is that people who have served the public well will be given the gift of unemployment. Their skills which have been beneficial will be thrown away. As for young people career openings are closing down for them - at the same time as our precious little government has abandoned promises of only months ago and trebled university tuition fees.

I warn readers that under this government it is extra bad to be sick. It is no longer encouraged to have educational aspirations. And for goodness sake don't loose your jobs for they will even blame you for that an given half a chance impoverish you for good measure!

As a father who fears for his childrens' futures and as a Methodist minister who takes seriously God's option for the poor,I feel no choice but to resist. Whilst I do not believe our deficit is as extreme as made out, I cannot get away from the fact that measures that will cut growth as will public spending cuts (please remember the private sector will be affected by loss of public sector projects) are hardly a cure.

Still here are a few suggestions so that the crisis of capitalism is paid for by those able to do so:

- introduce a wealth tax

- Robin Hood tax on financial transactions

- bring down rents by introducing rent tribunals an a fair rent policy with a tax on empty properties so that they can be brought into use

- abolition of Trident

- bring troops home from Afghanistan

- default on any part of deficit owed to banks until repaid by them in full for the cost of the bailout

- increase income tax by 2p at basic rate and more at higher levels. It might hurt but we'd be in it together rather than a scapegoated unemployed community.

- introduce a maximum wage of £150,000 a year.

And there's plenty more where all of that comes from! It may not be nice but it is better than failing to support the homeless, those with substance problems, those with learning disabilities etc. It is better than shutting libraries, failing to maintain roads or getting rid of teachers or teaching assistants. It is better than chopping the Youth Service or schemes with offenders. It is better than cutting healthcare professionals. and so the list goes on.

Yes, this is the battle of a generation. It is about being a civilised nation rather than one that slips into a form of barbarianism as dictated by shock capitalism. this is a struggle that requires a mighty alliance of socialists, environmentalists, trade unionists, progressive liberals, faith groups and more besides.

Those backing these cuts have been revealed to be implacable. So must we be in opposing their deeds. It is up to us. Don't trust Her Majesty's Opposition to do it - they are far to cautious. We need to take on the debate with protests on streets, support for strikes by those who are thrown out of work and a range of creative opposition that utilises humour as well as anger so that we maintain outr humanity.

Losing this engagement cannot be an option! Peaceful extra Parliamentary action must be joined.

Credo - 10 things I believe

1/. The immensity, unconditionality and timelessness of God's love is good news. But it is a cause of scandal. Still God's grace is for all manner of people in this life and after.

2/. We see the nature of God best when we look at Jesus in whom God has revealed Godself. This has to be good.

3/. The church's feudings over issues like sexuality do more demage to Christianity than any of the efforts of radical atheists. We need to discover a generous orthodoxy that builds bridges rather than walls.

4/. Spiritual treasure is found in other major faiths as well as in Christianity.

5/. Recognising the reality of differences between faiths as well as points in common we need real dialogue with those of other faiths. This can help us see what we treasure in our won faith as well as being a means to understanding and friendship in a multi faith world.

6/. I can see political reasons why nations go to war. However, I can no longer reconcile the killing of war with being a follower of Jesus. I guess this makes me a faltering pacifist.

6/. The message of the Bible points me to believing that God is on the side of the poor. In fact I would go further. To me the the Bible seems to point to the desirability of a more equal society without extremes of wealth or poverty.

7/. We are called not to be passive in the face of injustice. After all Jesus and the prophets did not pull their punches On matters such as the cuts in public spending, non violent civil disobedience is for me not an option. It is a necessity!

8/. Nationalism is a form of idolatry. I care about the people I am in contact with but at times I am disgusted at my country. So patriotism as I see it often defined is as Oscar Wilde put it t"he last resort of the scoundrel." So no flag flying for me!

9/. Personal experience has taught me that being human is a vulnerable experience. We are like a delicate thread that is easily broken. The mental and emotional wellbeing of others should be a trump consideration in both our personal lives and in the functioning of society.

10/. We are leaseholders not freeholders of our world. This means taking care of the planet and its resources so that we fulfil God's desire to hand over a good legacy for future generations. This means that environmental considerations are vital.

Climate change - are the lunatics taking over the asylum?

As victor Meldrew would say, "I don't believe it!" But it really is true that a man who does not believe in climate change on Biblical grounds is set for the top environmental position in the US House of Representatives.

Thanks to Richard Hall for unearthing this gem. Somtimes I really do think the world is going mad!

Remembering it well - A sermon for Remembrance Day based on Micah 4: 1-8

"We met at nine
We met at eight

I was on time
No you were late
Ah, yes I remember it well.

We dined with friends
We dined alone

A tenor sang
A baritone
Ah, yes,I remember it well."

Some of you will doubtless remember those lyrics about a couple with very different memories of their first date, from the film musical "Gigi" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe sang by Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold.

More important today though is the remembering of this day. Do we remember it well?

Certainly today is a day in which we remember those who have fallen in wars going back to 1914 and indeed those who continue to die in the quagmire that is Afghanistan.

It is certainly a day in which we should remember how conflicts have impacted upon often very ordinary people. People whose conduct on the field of battle has been of heroic dimensions. Those too who who have succumbed to instincts of cruelty in their treatment of others especially those of other nations

People who have put themselves in great danger to save the lives of their comrades Those too who have been unable to cope and become frozen in fear sometimes mocked for so called cowardice

And then there is the multitude of civilians who have suffered or even died as a result of military actions - for the past century has taught us all too well that despite the sort of rubbish spouted on television by so called military experts about precison bombings and the likes by the lesson of the past century is that in our modern world civilians die as much in war as combatants.

And also we remember other stories. Those who worked down the mines, on the farms, in a range of reserved occupations. And then there are those who often for religious reasons went against the tide of public opinion by refusing to fight in past wars - sometimes heroically taking on the risks of attending to the injuries of combatants, in other cases imprisoned or just simply rejected by those around them.

You see the conflicts we remember today have deeply affected all sorts of people- and on this day we remember that for far too many the consequence has beeen death or years of living with awful physical and emotional injuries.

I'd like to say that those have experienced these dangers have been honoured. But sadly the reality all too different. Those who fought in the trenches returned to promises of "homes fit for heroes" but the homes did not materialise on anything like a satisfactory basis. And within 20 years some of those who experienced hell on earth would once more catch the eye as Jarrow Hunger marchers coming down from London on their own behalf but also on behalf of others, once needed by King and country now dispossessed of employment and dignity, thrown aside by the nation that they had served. Today all too many of those who have been through our recent wars, depsite the efforts of the Royal British Legion, lack the support they need to cope with civilian lives and to handle the demons of their experiences in ways that do not destroy them further.

You see, to remember them well is about more than just looking back or even wearing a poppy. It is also about appreciating the worth of people through the changing scenes of life, not just when they can be used as pawns on a chessboard.

And in that remembrance we need to grasp the horror of war. Harry Patch the last fighting Tommy alive writes a moving description on an event during the hellish batle of Passchendale;

" We came across a lad from A Company. He was ripped open from his shoulder to the waist by shrapnel, and lying in a pool of blood. When we got to him, he looked at us and said, 'Shoot me.' He was beyond all human help, and before we could draw a revolver he was dead! And the final word he uttered was 'Mother!' "

That is the reality repeated countless times that we remember on Remembrance Day. No wonder Harry Patch, a man whose grasp on humanity was such that he told of aiming at the legs rather than to kill, later in the context of telling of a meeting with a German soldier also well past 100 years of age, makes the assertion that politicians and generals today should hear morningt noon and nightfall;

"War is organised murder and nothing else."

So have we learned? Got to Dachau's concentration camp and you will find the words of Georges Santayana on a memorial -

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Yet still it is repeated. Only this month our Ministry of Defence's business plan makes one of its prime priorities the sale of weapons - and despite the weasel words we know full well that successive governments have sold them to some pretty ghastly regimes. One of our top men at defence has spoken of there being no embarassment at the sale of weapons. All I can say is that given the effects of weaponry there jolly well ought to be more than a little embarassment.

So what is the message from God on a day such as this? well we know that from the beginnings of time there have been those who have tried to co opt God as a justification for war. The biblical message of God being the giver of life to all peoples has time and again been ignored. Yet the prophets of ancient Israel dared to challenge the people with the vision of a better way than that pursued by the Kings.

Think for a moment to those verses from Micah that we heard a few minutes ago. In an age of mountinging security Micah looks to a time when swords will be turned to ploughshares, a time when technology will serve the wellbeing of humanity rather than its brutal destruction.

Look to Third Isaiah encouraging a community intent on a return to Jerusalem after long years in exile. His vision is of a new community in which there will be wellbeing and a deep sense of harmony. In this new world even wolves will lay down with lambs and crnivorous wolves will eat straw. for now there will be no hurting or destruction.

And thhen look to Jesus himself advocating relationships with those were seen as the enemies of his people. See him in the Garden of Gethsemane stopping Peter from using the sword in defence of Jesus. And remember that this same Jesus is the one who has already told those who would listent to love their enemies - doubtless madness in the eyes of the local media!

Of course the Biblical witness is not easy. But as a community of faith we need to remember that witness on such a day and to commend it to others. For the vision of Peace is at the heart of our faith as is Shalom to our Jewish friends and Salaam to our Muslim friends.

Today we pay a debt of honour in the act of remembrance. It is right and proper. It looks back but also looks forward. At Yad Vashem in Jerusalem there are to be found the words;

" In remembrance lies the secret of deliverance."

There those words of an 18th century Hasidic Jew are found in the context of the remembrance of the Holocaust. But they are words of wisdom that we hold a meaning for us today.

It is when we remember the horror of war and the peoples it destroys that we become less likely to repeat the past.

It is when we remember the humanity of other nations that our destructive urges are softened.

It is when we remember the way of God as expressed in Jesus that we begin to realise that war does not have the final say.

Today with a range of emotions we look back and remember. But as we do so we commit ourselves to peace. War is not inevitable and if we will but build bridges and look to the ways of God then we can indeed resist the chill winds that breathe hatred and destruction into our world. After all Britons, Americans, Germans, Japanese, Russians,Iraqis and Afghans are alike children of God who belong together. We were created to build one another up not to tear one another apart.

Back to Harry Patch. As he heard the dying soldier cry out "Mother!" he felt it revealed to him that death is not the end, not the last word. On this day may we have our epiphany that war is not the final word. For as our remembrance looks to God we see the highest calling on humanity to put an end to the practice of destroying the lives that are themselves the gift of God.Yes, may it be our resolution to put an end to war that those swords may indeed be turned to ploughshares.

For that is remembering it well!

Common Wealth - A Bblical Alternative to Capitalism

I have been waiting for a solid faith based contribution to why and how we should resist the cuts. I have great pleasure in linking to Common Wealth. Please read and even sign their statement.

I will do anything I can to support this initiative just as I commit myself to involvement in broad based campaigns against these iniquitous cuts. It is out duty as followers of Christ to resis - it is not just an option!

Churches warn that government welfare plans misunderstand poverty

Christian organisations have warned that the Government’s welfare proposals are based on a lack of understanding of the poor. They argue that constructive reforms are at risk of being lost under a wave of punitive measures and cost-cutting.

The Methodist Church, the Church of Scotland, the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Housing Justice and Church Action on Poverty have welcomed plans for a simplified benefits system, but have raised concerns that the proposed reforms are based on inaccurate assumptions about the poor.

“There is a serious danger that people living in poverty will be stigmatised by government announcements that imply they are lazy or work-shy,” said Revd Alison Tomlin, President of the Methodist Conference. “The Government seems to assume that if people are forced into working they will comply and their lives will be made better. The poor we meet are seeking to better their lives in difficult circumstances. They are willing to work, but face difficulties in finding jobs, in meeting caring responsibilities and in living on the wages offered.”

“People who are long-term unemployed are already struggling to find work in a market place where there is increasing pressure on both the public and private sectors,” added Alison Gelder, Director of Housing Justice. “Some need help to develop the skills to find and keep a regular job. What they do not need are punitive measures such as the proposed cut in housing benefit by 10% after a year out of work. Most of all, they should not be forced to do manual labour in return for their benefits for just £1.73 an hour - £4.20 below the current adult minimum wage.”

The group argues that Government welfare policy needs to be based on a realistic assessment of those living in poverty and what they really need to get back into the work force. They are concerned that policy should not be based on a skewed figures and a misunderstanding of the poor.

Revd Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and Unity for the Baptist Union of Great Britain said: “We meet people on a daily basis who are experiencing long term unemployment. Unemployment, especially in an area where there are few jobs available, damages a person’s self-confidence, health and ability to survive life’s knocks. The Government needs to understand what people in poverty need in order to return to work. It’s not good enough to just tell people to ‘pull their socks up’.”

Niall Cooper, National Coordinator of Church Action on Poverty, said “We ask that the government to talk to people in poverty and base their policies on combating the problems they face daily. Iain Duncan Smith should come to one of our listening events, where people struggling to make ends meet tell their stories. Simplistic solutions such as benefit cuts, telling people to get on a bus to find work, and enforced labour would face a harsh reality check.”

On 28 October a group of Churches and Christian agencies wrote to David Cameron asking him to set the public record straight after Chancellor George Osborn conflated figures for benefit fraud and error during his speech on the Comprehensive Spending Review, claiming that there is three times as much fraud as shown by government figures.


SOUCE: Methodist Church

Remembrance 2010 - Memorial Tablet

Squire nagged and bullied till I went to fight,
(Under Lord Derby's scheme). I died in hell -
(They called it Passchendaele). My wound was slight,
And I was hobbling back; and then a shell
Burst slick upon the duck-boards; so I fell
Into the bottomless mud, and lost the light.


At sermon-time, while Squire is in his pew,
He gives my gilded name a thoughtful stare;
For, though low down upon the list, I'm there;
"In proud and glorious memory" ... that's my due.
Two bleeding years I fought in France, for Squire:
I suffered anguish that he's never guessed.
Once I came home on leave: and then went west ...
What greater glory could a man desire? Siegfried Sassoon

Arms trade subverts Christmas

Most of us would see Jesus as the bringer of peace, as the child hunted by Herod's military. We may eeven remember him as theone who told us to love our enemies and the one who in his hour of need told Peter to put his sword down. Certainly we surely couldn't reconcile Jesus with the deathly arms industry. Well some see no contradiction. Amazingly the promoters of London's "Spirit of Christmas Fair" also promoted arms fairs for the whores of death. Clearly they don't understand the Christmas message or at least they do not let it enter their business activities. Full marks to Campaign Against the Arms Trade and their very own Santa.


Visitors to the Spirit of Christmas Fair in London were surprised to be greeted by Santa Claus and his elves warning them that the Fair's owners are involved in the arms trade.

The Fair, which took place at Kensington Olympia in London on Sunday (7 November), is run by Clarion Events. The company also own a string of arms fairs, including the biennial London arms fair, known formally as Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi).

Hundreds of leaflets were distributed to the fair's customers by campaigners dressed as Santa and elves. They displayed placards calling for "Tinsel, Not Tanks". The campaigners said that the spirit of Christmas was “being corrupted by the owners of the DSEi arms fair”.

The demonstration was organised by the London Group of the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). They described it as a continuation of their campaign for Clarion to ditch its portfolio of arms fairs. Clarion has also faced protests at a number of its other exhibitions, including the high-profile Baby Show.

Clarion bought many of the arms fairs – including DSEi – from the publishing business Reed Elsevier. Reed sold them following a campaign by their own customers, clients and shareholders, which was co-ordinated by CAAT.

“I find it disgusting that Clarion Events are happy to run such family-friendly events as the Spirit of Christmas Fair while also organising the destructive, harmful DSEi arms fair,” said London CAAT activist Ian Pocock, 35.

London CAAT pledged to continue their campaign on Clarion into 2011. The next DSEi arms fair is scheduled for 13-16 September 2011.


SOURCE: Ekklesia

A prayer for peace for Israelis and Palestinians

From a song by Garth Hewitt;

'May the justice of God fall down like fire
and bring a home for the Palestinian.
May the mercy of God pour down like rain
and protect the Jewish people.
And may the beautiful eyes of a Holy God
who weeps for his children
Bring the healing hope for his wounded ones
for the Jew and the Palestinian.’


Amen!

Mark Thomas praises Palestinian Christians

The activist comedian Mark Thomas has praised Palestinian Christians for their role in the growth of nonviolent resistance to Israeli occupation.

Thomas recently walked the length of the wall surrounding the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in preparation for a book and a film on the subject. He met with Muslims, Christians, Jews and others who are opposing the occupation without violence.

Thomas, an atheist, said, “When Christians get it right, they really get it right”.

He applauded the decision of Christian churches in Jerusalem to describe the occupation as a sin. And he quoted one Christian priest who told him that he was resisting the occupation to “save our Israeli brothers and sisters from committing a mortal sin”.

Thomas made his comments while drawing links between military occupation and the arms industry in a speech to the annual National Gathering of the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) in London on Saturday (6 November).

He said that seeing the wall in Palestine reminded him that campaigning against the arms trade is part of a wider struggle against militarism and all that keeps it in place. Thomas has used comedy alongside more traditional campaigning methods to work against the arms trade over the last decade.

CAAT's National Gathering brought the highest turnout in years, with people from across Britain and beyond meeting for a day of talks, networking and campaigning workshops.

The event allowed participants to explore the elements of the arms trade that concerned them the most, as well as the forms of campaigning that they were most interested in.

Subjects offered in workshops included the arms industry's role in relation to the new government, next year's arms fair in east London and the growth of mercenary armies. They were followed by workshops to develop particular campaigning skills, such as organising local activism or using social media.

A key aim of CAAT is to bring an end to the influence of arms companies within the UK government.

The organisation is urging the government to close the arms wing of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a unit of the Department for Business that promotes British exports. While arms account for less than two per cent of UK exports, UKTI devotes more staff to arms than to all other sectors combined.

Mark Thomas said, “There is an odd air of expectancy about the arms trade - that it has access to ministers, that it has access to governments, that it has access to the highest levels”.

He added, “One of the great things about CAAT is that it makes room for everyone”. And he insisted that all actions against the arms trade can make a difference. “Every bit counts," he said, "It all counts".


SOURCE: Ekklesia

Remembrance 2010 - All wars are planned by older men

"All wars are planned by older men
In council rooms apart,
Who call for greater armament
And map the battle chart.

But out along the shattered field
Where golden dreams turn gray,
How very young the faces were
Where all the dead men lay.

Portly and solemn in their pride,
The elders cast their vote
For this or that, or something else,
That sounds the martial note.

But where their sightless eyes stare out
Beyond life's vanished toys,
I've noticed nearly all the dead
Were hardly more than boys." Grantland Rice


What a haunting poem and how painfully true!

Pilger - time to shake the earth for democracy!

A stirring call to resistance from John Pilger in the face of the Cameron government's attack on public spending and social democracy.

Pilger makes a string case to stand up and fight. And in that I endorse him. The poor for whom Jesus has a particular place are under an obscene attack at present. I have no doubt that the consequences of the public spending review will be a rise in depression and indeed in suicides as many feel increasingly insecure. Not to resist is to collabarate. Anyway here as a taster is Pilger's opening which draws on Shelley's "Mask of Anarchy."

"Rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number!
Shake your chains to earth, like dew
Which in sleep had fall'n on you:
Ye are many - they are few."

These days, the stirring lines of Percy Shelley's "Mask of Anarchy" may seem unattainable. I don't think so. Shelley was both a Romantic and political truth-teller. His words resonate now because only one political course is left to those who are disenfranchised and whose ruin is announced on a government spreadsheet.

Born of the "never again" spirit of 1945, social democracy has surrendered to an extreme political cult of money worship. This reached its apogee when £1trn of public money was handed unconditionally to corrupt banks by a Labour government whose leader, Gordon Brown, had previously described "financiers" as the nation's "great example" and his personal "inspiration".

This is not to say parliamentary politics is meaningless. It has one meaning now: the replacement of democracy with a business plan for every human activity, every dream, every decency, every hope, every child born.

Shelley we have need of your inspiration at this very moment. Rise like lions after slumber!

Same sex relationships and the Bible

For anyone interested I recommend this analysis of same sex relationships and Christianity by the The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement for your consideration and study. It certainly opens up debate and the need for serious exegesis.

Remembrance 2010 - Anthem for doomed youth

Few poems convey to me more clearly the futility of war than Wilfred Owen's "Anthem for Doomed Youth." Every line fills me with anger at the wretched politicians and military leaders who sent the young men of Europe to be mown down in the trenches of World War 1. War criminal indeed! And no less guilty was the churches of Britain which with honourable exceptions followed the path of merciless lords and ignored the Lordship of Jesus. Heresy is a fitting word here. But of course it is young men and their loved ones whose dreams were mercilessly stolen who invoke deep feelings of sadness. We will remember them. But will we learn?


What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, -
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Iraqi translators - an unpaid debt of honour.

Remember the days of the Iraq War? A number of Iraqis put themse;ves and their families at great risk to help toe Coalition troops. eventually some were allowed to settle in the UK for the sake of their safety. Sadly the gratitude seems to end there. Read here about the lifestyle and shattered dreasm that so many of them are now living with.

Clearly now that their use is over, we treat these people as disposable. Shame on Britain!

Henri Nouwen on being in communion with all people

"Christians should put survival of the planet ahead of national security...Here is the mystery of our global responsibility: that we are in communion with Christ- and we are in communion with all people...The fact that the people of Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Russia, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia are our brothers and sisters is not obvious. People kill each other by the thousands and do not see themselves as brothers and sisters. If we want to be real peace-makers, national security cannot be our primary concern. Our primary concern should be survival of humanity, the survival of the planet, and the health of all people. Whether we are Russians, Iraqis, Ethiopians, or North Americans, we belong to the same human family that God loves. And we have to start taking some risks- not just individually, but risks of a more global quality, risks to let other people develop their own independence, risks to share our wealth with others and invite refugees to our country, risks to offer sanctuary- because we are people of God"

The stew of corruption.

Do read this depressing but painfully accurate post concerning the state of British democracy by former UK amabassador to Uzbekhistan Craig Murray.

Read! Weep! Get angry! Then get even!

Canon Naim Ateek

Interesting article on Naim Ateek. Remember I have in my time heard hate campaigns against Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Sandinistas for starters. I have met many who tell me how their parents believed the most dreadful things about Mohandas Gandhi. Ateel deserves a hearing even if you disagree with him. I will not denigrate this Christian anymore than I will automaticaaly support him in all he contends for.

Against the cuts - Jesus makes me resist them!

"We do not create a fair society - let alone a ‘Big Society’ - by placing some of our fellow citizens beyond the reach of social solidarity,” - Bishop Tim Stevens.

And that dear reader is what is happening. And that is why these cuts must be opposed! Too many people fear loss of jobs, homes, valuable social support and benefits. The medicine offered by this government means that the vulnerable will pay the price for the reckless gambling of men in suits. Jesus stands in solidarity with the poor and the outcast. For the life of me I cannot reconcile that with current policies of austerity for those without nice trust funds. It is because of the gospel that I stand publicly against these cuts.

Oscar Romero on peace

■"Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries. Peace is not the silent result of violent repression. Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all. Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is right and it is duty."

It is this "good of all" which means that in the Middle East there can only be real peace when the aspirations and good of Jew and Palestinian are bothe taken equally seriously. It is the failure of politicians to address this that leaves them condemned in the eyes of God!

Wisdom from Elias Chacour

As the Methodist blogosphere is in uproar over the issue of Palestine/Israel. it is good to hear some words from Elias Chacour, the author of "Blood Brothers."

You who live in the United States, if you are pro-Israel, on behalf of the Palestinian children I call unto you: give further friendship to Israel. They need your friendship. But stop interpreting that friendship as an automatic antipathy against me, the Palestinian who is paying the bill for what others have done against my beloved Jewish brothers and sisters in the Holocaust and Auschwitz and elsewhere.

And if you have been enlightened enough to take the side of the Palestinians -- oh, bless your hearts -- take our sides, because for once you will be on the right side, right? But if taking our side would mean to become one-sided against my Jewish brothers and sisters, back up. We do not need such friendship. We need one more common friend. We do not need one more enemy, for God's sake.

Now that is spiritual depth!

Save Sakineh Ashtiani

Sakineh is the woman who not so long ago faced stining to death. As I write she is believed to be within hours of the hangman's noose. Please go to Avaaz and join the pressure to save thi8s woman from judicial murder.

Don't waste time! There is little left. Just join the pressure on Iran to spare a life! NOW!

Time to buy Christmas cards - look to Amos Trust!

Well even for dozy old men like me, the time is coming to get Christmas cards as the celebration of God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ draws near. Anyhow I recommend these cards from the Amos Trust especially the Nicaraguan one. I do love its text;

A Christmas thought about Solentinam, Nicaragua

In the silence of Solentiname interpreted by bird song,
Where dignity was born from the womb of simplicity. where justice will come as the fruit of humanity, As justice once came in the birth in a manger.
Where daily survival arrives with creativity,
With painting on canvas an crafts full of colour,
by Elba Jimenez and Rosa Pineda.
Just as hope was the song sung by the angels,
And humble the way taken by magi
May we find the wayt to journey beside them,
One the road to justice - on the road to creativity,
Straight out of Bethlehem - the gift of simplicty,
With all the colour and all of the birdsong,
And all of the joy - born in Solentiname

Solentiname is the island home of a base community of artists created by the priest/poet Ernesto Cardenal. The picture on the cards comes from Rosa Pineda who works in the setting.

Gart Hewitt whose work is at the heart of the Amos Trust sings of this in his "Poets of Nicaragua on his Moonrise album which I fully recommend.

So go on. Celebrate Christmas with the voices of God's liberation!

That Jesus was HIV sermon - Mad Priest takes on the sensationalism.

Do read this helpful take in the "Jesus was HIV sermon." It gets the whole thing into perspective.

The way of understanding with Islam

The coordinator of a Muslim initiative to promote common ground with Christians says that leaders of the two religions have a duty to protect adherents of the other faith against followers of their own.

"For both our religions harming religious minorities among us is evil, is absolutely forbidden and is ultimately a rejection of God's love and a crime against God himself," Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad Bin Talal of Jordan said on the opening day of a 1-4 November 2010 meeting of Muslim and Christian leaders and scholars in Geneva.

Speaking at the Ecumenical Centre, which houses the World Council of Churches and other international organisations, Ghazi urged leaders of the two faiths to, "defend the other against followers of our own religion when the other is weak and oppressed, especially in a social minority context".

The remarks come in the wake of the appalling tragedy in Iraq, where anti-Christian extremists occupied a Catholic Church on Sunday, taking over 100 congregants hostage, and a failed military operation to storm the building and free them resulted in 50 deaths and many more injuries.

HAT TIP:Ekklesia

COMMENT: The Prince is right. True spirituality is shown through protecting those whose understanding is other than our own.The followers of different faiths need to listen sensitively to each other and to defend each other from those who would emphasise divisions in a way that builds up walls. The sad truth is we have a long way to go before that aspiration is met

Churches ask Prime Minister to put record straight regarding poor

At a time when the poor seem to be both paying the heaviest price for the economic downturn which was not of there doing and being double punished by being stigmatised bu government comments, I welcome this letter by church leaders asking the prime minister to put the record straight.
Dear Mr Cameron

We are writing to express our concern that a number of recent Government announcements have had the effect of stigmatising the poor, especially those in receipt of out of work benefits. Our experience of working in deprived communities is that life on benefits is often a struggle, with difficult and stressful financial choices being a daily occurrence. We believe this reality is not well reflected in Government statements and needs to be at the heart of any debate on Welfare Reform

The stigmatising effect these announcements have had on the poorest and most vulnerable in society has been noted in a number of areas by the signatories of this letter, who may correspond individually at a later date. The single outstanding example has been Government rhetoric around benefit fraud. We in no way condone benefit fraud and would wish to see this reduced to zero, but we question the Government’s public emphasis placed upon it. For the financial year 2009-2010, the NAO estimates fraud to be 0.6% of the DWP benefits bill, while errors make up more than double this figure. The tendency to emphasise fraud when poverty and welfare reform are discussed often distracts attention from getting resources to those genuinely in need, which accounts for the other 99.4% of benefit spending.

The most important example of this misrepresentation occurred when your Chancellor conflated benefit fraud and error during his speech announcing the Comprehensive Spending Review on October 20th 2010.

He said:

“Nor will fraud in the welfare system be tolerated any more. We estimate that £5 billion a year is being lost in this way - £5 billion that others have to work long hours to pay in their taxes. This week we published our plans to step up the fight to catch benefit cheats and deploy uncompromising penalties when they are caught.”

As I trust you are aware the £5 billion figure is a three fold exaggeration of the true Government estimate of benefit fraud. The publication referred to above confirms that benefit fraud is estimated at £1billion, and tax credit fraud is estimated at £0.6 billion, making a total of £1.6 billion. The exaggerated figure is derived by adding the fraud estimates to the error estimates.

We agree with the Government that benefit fraud is a serious offence, but implying that the poorest perpetrate this offence three times more than is the case is clearly unjust. We also agree with you that the CSR will dramatically affect the lives of a generation, but the fact that issues around welfare reform are vital to the social and economic future of this country means it is imperative that the debate is informed by accurate information.

As speeches in the Commons are matters of public record we would ask that you instruct the Chancellor to correct his statement of 20th October. We would also ask that the Ministerial forward to the publication ‘Tackling fraud and error in the benefit and tax credits systems’ published last week by the DWP and HMRC, is similarly corrected, as it makes the same error.

We would ask for a speedy response as the debate on welfare reform is moving rapidly and deserves to be informed by the best and most accurate information possible.

Yours sincerely

Revd Martyn Atkins General Secretary The Methodist Church

Simon Loveitt Public Issues Spokesperson The United Reformed Church

Revd Graham Sparkes Head of Faith and Unity The Baptist Union of Great Britain

Rev. Ian Galloway Convener, Church and Society Council The Church of Scotland

Lt Col Marion Drew The Salvation Army

Niall Cooper National Co-ordinator Church Action on Poverty

Alison Gelder Director Housing Justice

c/o The Methodist Church Methodist Church House 25 Marylebone Rd London NW1 5JR


SOURCE: Methodist Church News