Categories: uncategorized
Date: 07 June 2008 12:56:13
Ok, I could go into a whole string of links, but I won't. Right at the start I direct you to Ruth Gledhill's blog / on line column, which contains all the links you might need this morning.
Gledhill has got a copy of Moral, Wthout a Compass advance of Monday's publication and has been given space by her editor to make extensive comment on this new Church of England report. The front page comment is interesting and reflects what the newspapers are portraying as the general "fed up" mood of the country at the moment. It is pages 5 and 6 of today's Times which make more interesting reading though.
In these pages Gledhill appears to be grappling with three key issues (which the report, I would guess, is also grapling with): secularisation, the particular link between church and state in the UK and finally the relationship between social action and evangelicalism.
What I think is particularly interesting is the way that the whole of what Gledhill is saying reflects the changing way the way the Church of England is viewed in this country and the way part of it's previous role has, to some extent, been taken over by para-church organisations, aswell as by secular church organisations. By this I mean roles which would previously almost have been guarenteed as going to Bishops now go to experienced, leading Christians (and others) who are often from a non-Church of England background. For example there are claims regarding the lack of representatives of the Christian faith being consulted and recognised by New Labour yet only recently have we seen Steve Chalke being given a role as an advisor to the UN and all the hoo-hah about Joel Edwards (E.A.) role as a representative on the governments equality quango.
What I, personally, think the initial reports are showing is that we do need a formal renegotiation of the relationship between faith groups and the state, which may well need to include a dis-establishment of the Church of England, whilst somehow keeping hold of some of the traditional trappings.
The initial reports, yet again, are showing that the marketisation of publc services and the destruction of the welfare state which started under Thatcher and has carried on a pace under New Labour is a huge part of the problem not the solution. This is what has led to the secular mega-providers, (who then sub-contact out), becoming dominant and much of the attack on providers from faith communities.
I look forward to Monday's official launch of the report and the enevitable blogland debate which will follow. I'm also looking forward to reading through a copy myself at somepoint. In the meantime, what I would say is, if you know anybody who is going to be teaching or studying the Sociology of Religion A2 module next year you could do much worse than putting a copy of today's Times or a link to the Times Website in their hands today.