Diocesan Conference 2009
Questions & Answers
Mr John Bewley asked:
At the recent Governing Body, Archbishop Barry urged the churches to put moral and ethical matters back on the public agenda. We need to make our voice heard on all issues, he said. Could Bishop Dominic share with us some of the issues he considers important? How does he suggest that individual Christians and churches go about making their voices heard?
The Bishop replied:
I am grateful to John Bewley for asking this question because ‘moral and ethical matters’ are not an add-on to the Christian faith but a consequence of what we believe about God and his relationship with his world.
I would want to name three moral issues as being of prime importance:
The first is our duty to care for God’s creation. The Bible opens with God entrusting humankind with the care of the creation and yet so often we have abused this trust and exploited God’s world. We have been destroying the planet and have now become aware of the need for ecology and the care of creation. This raises moral issues about climate change, the use of fossil fuels, recycling waste, animal welfare and our carbon footprints.
In response to these issues, the Church in Wales has produced the Parish Green Guide which all PCCs should have discussed so that they can see if there are ways in which they can take steps to save energy, recycle and care for the environment. The Diocese has an active CHASE groups (CHASE stands for CHurch Action on Sustaining the Environment) and parishes and individuals can be members of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals (of which I happen to be the President).
The second moral issue (which is related to the first) is that of justice. Jesus said, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (justice) …’ We live in a world where 20% of the population uses 80% of the world resources. Women and children often have poor working conditions and lack human rights and many individuals and churches have been long time supporters of organisations like Amnesty International and Anti-Slavery International. In addition, there are justice issues concerning the manufacture and sale of arms, trade justice, health justice and finance justice. For example, Governments in the US and Europe have recently found $3 trillion dollars to bale out the banks but they have provided less that one ten thousandth of that amount to help feed the poor who as a result of the world economic crisis are facing massive increases in food prices and starvation.
In our companion Diocese of the Highveld between 30-50% of the population are infected with HIV/AIDS but the vast majority do not have access to the drugs that are available. Again individuals and parishes have been generous in their support of the ministry to those people.
Issues of justice are also linked with peace because there can be no real peace without justice. The prophet Micah (6:8) said, ‘Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God’.
The third moral issue I would name is that of the family. We know that family life is the bedrock of society and yet even in our own society there is an increase in family breakdown through divorce. We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe and many children lack good role models. The ‘knock on’ effect can be seen in the crime statistics and the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Mr Justice Coleridge, a judge in the Family Division has said that not every broken family produces dysfunctional children but dysfunctional children almost always come from broken families.
The Children’s Society has looked at what it calls the sexploitation of children and many parents lack parenting skills. Here in Wales, many individuals and parishes support the Archbishop’s Fund for Children.
The Church can address some of these issues through the work of the Mothers Union, the Care for the Family organisation, our own church schools and work with children and young people where teaching about the importance of relationships is paramount; and more recently there has been an encouraging response to the ministry of Street Pastors which brings us into contact with needy teenagers. In a Street Pastor scheme there are those who go out onto the streets and also those who support them through prayer.
In addition, many churches run groups for parents and young children and are looking at community projects to support family life and minister to those from broken homes.
So, in conclusion, I consider that three major moral issues – caring for creation, working for justice and supporting family life - as having the highest priority and ones which I hope our churches, and each one of us, will address.