Influencing Policy
As churches and individual Christians engage in Discovering God’s Kingdom through our mission and ministry we realise that such mission and ministry cannot be simply at a pastoral level. There is a prophetic calling to challenge and change then unjust structures in our society and across our world which play a large part in creating the difficulties many people face on a daily basis.
Someone has suggested that Jesus' well known Parable of the Good Samaritan originally had a part two that has been lost in transmission. In this parable we are told that through reflecting on the attack on the traveller, the landlord of the inn set up a Street Pastor scheme and then joined the local Community Safety board; one of the inn's regulars started a Crime Diversion project for local youngsters repairing motor-bikes and the Samaritan himself, who happened to be a member of the Jericho Development Agency, campaigned for greater economic investment in that community.
So as Christians and Churches we are urged to live out the prophetic dimension of our calling though actions and through speaking out on issues. This can often mean taking on representative roles on elected and other statutory bodies and using our influence to make a difference.
Cornwall Faith Forum has a representative on the Cornwall Strategic Partnership as well as a number of its thematic working groups. See below for details:
- Cornwall Strategic Partnership (CSP) Faith rep - contact Andrew Yates, Tel 01872 274351
- CSP Thematic Partnerships - contact via Andrew Yates, Tel 01872 274351
- Community Safety - Mike Firbank
- Culture - Jem Thorold
- Health and Wellbeing Board - Vici Williams
- Homes and Communities - Emma le Saux
- Inclusion Cornwall - Manijeh Smith
- Voluntary Sector Forum Board - Faith representative - Andrew Yates