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NWI: Mixing the Political and the Prophetic
11 May 2005
How can the church influence politics without becoming political? How can the church’s voice be heard on major social issues – in a positive way?
These were two of the many questions under discussion at a unique summit of European church network leaders held in London, May 5-7.
On the day of the British national election, leaders of charismatic church networks and ministries from ten European nations gathered to discuss the theme: ‘Extending the Church’s Influence in Government and Civic Leadership.’
Keynotes speakers at the the Strategic Leadership Consultation included Steve Chalke (MBE), founder of FaithWorks, Gerald Coates of the Pioneer church network and Mal Fletcher, director of Next Wave International.
The consultation focussed on developing a consensus on where major church networks might best engage with community needs in Europe as a whole.
‘All government is about being pragmatic,’ said Steve Chalke, a Baptist minister whose work promoting social inclusion has gained respect from all of Britain’s major political parties.
‘Access and influence are based on whether we can help community leaders to get results. Real trust begins in small places and is built on trustworthiness.’
Mal Fletcher, hosting the event, added that, ‘The church is often better known in a community for what it stands against, than what is stands for! We want to reverse that – to become more inclusive, engaging the future in a positive way.’
‘At this summit, we’ve looked at ways of taking responsibility not just for building better churches, but developing a better society.’
‘I think the central question for every Christian leader is this: what kind of city and nation do we want to be living in ten years from now, and what will you do to set that in motion?’
‘As I move around Europe speaking with church leaders, I find a growing passion to combine intimacy with God with positive and inclusive engagement within the community.’
Ray McCauley, leader of the 32,000-member Rhema Church in South Africa, was interviewed via a phone hook-up.
Pastor McCauley’s church has had a strong impact on helping to shape South Africa’s social landscape in the post-apartheid era. ‘We must ask one question,’ he said. ‘If my church wasn’t there, would the community miss it?’
The Strategic Leadership Consultation published a ‘Statement of Intent’, featuring fourteen principles which European church leaders have agreed to employ in building bridges with community and political leaders.
The principles included a commitment to ‘work to create a better for all the people in our cities and communities’. Another promised greater support for people within churches who are called to work within the political sphere.
‘This event has a truly prophetic nature,’ reports Stuart Bell, leader of the Ground Level network of churches in the UK. ‘There are very few conferences which address the full spectrum of the European scene, or offer this consultative approach so that we hear different points of view.’
Next Wave International will host a follow-up summit in Spain, in May, 2006. It’s focus will ‘Europe 2020’, developing an in-depth study of Europe’s social, cultural and spiritual future.
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