Church In Society Advocate Revd Duncan Goldie

The Forum relates closely to the URC Secretary for Church and Society and the Joint Public Issues Team and it includes the Synod advocates for Commitment for Life and Racial Justice in its active membership. It seeks to present matters of concern to the formal meetings of the Synod and give links to websites which can provide further information.

Through those with specific knowledge, we seek to keep well informed on local issues, such as farming and rural life, asylum seekers, Post Office closure, criminal justice and support of prisoners, poverty and homelessness, and on wider issues of justice, fair trade, development and support for those on the margins of society as well as climate change and the ecology.

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“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,
and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.”.
St Luke ch 4 vv 18-19 (GNB)

The words which Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth sum up the agenda of the Church in Society Forum. All who worship in the churches of the Eastern Synod are members of the Forum as all who seek to follow Jesus are called “to love your neighbour as you love yourself.” This is not an optional extra.

The next Church In Society Forum meeting will be on
Saturday 26th May 2012 at 10.00 am till 12.45 at the home of Martin and Pamela Cressey

All are welcome - please let us know if you are coming:

Download: Church In Society Forum Report from Meeting of 14th January 2012

Church in Society Austerity Challenge Forum

It seems that we are struggling to make a consistent Christian response to the current austerity we are currently experiencing, that is having a real impact of the lives of many people. This forum is an attempt to redress this, and invites your contributions, to what our response should be, to the society and world we are currently a part of.

Download: Initial thoughts and questions expressed the January Synod Church in Society Meeting

Church in Society Resources

A Toolkit for Local Authority Housing Options services. Managing the effects of housing benefit change.

Downlaod: A Toolkit for Local Authority Housing

Chris Wright’s Reflective Study Visit to Southern Africa

The FURY website carries an excellent article by Victoria Paulding on her visit to Mwenzo Girls’ Secondary School in Zambia. Christ Wright continues the Southern Africa theme by telling you of his 6 week visit to Southern Africa, funded by a Mission Bursary from the John Hall Fund of Emmanuel URC Cambridge.

Download: report

Church in Society useful website links  

Website: The Arthur Rank Centre 

For 40 years the Arthur Rank Centre has served both the spiritual and practical needs of the rural Christian community through a programme of community and social projects, resourcing and training. The Centre is not just a building but an enduring symbol of faith in the countryside. Its mission: to resource rural churches of all denominations, to develop greater understanding between rural and urban communities and between different faith groups.

Website: Christian Aid

Christian Aid and its partners are working to bring an end to poverty around the world - tackling its root causes as well as its effects.

Website: Church Action on Poverty

Church Action on Poverty is a national campaigning body, but also runs grassroots projects in local communities.

Website: Operation NOAH

A Christian organisation which provides leadership, focus and inspiration in response to the growing threat of catastrophic climate change endangering God’s creation.

Website: CHASTE

Churches alert to sex trafficking across Europe.

Website: Housing Justice

Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action in the field of housing and homelessness. We exist because we believe that human dignity is challenged by the lack of decent housing.