The Christian Gospel, the Good News announced by Jesus when he quoted from the Prophet Isaiah in St Luke’s Gospel Chapter 4, Verse 18, has implications for how we live our lives, how we treat other people, and what we believe to be right and wrong. This means that if it is to do its job the Church must be involved in the area often referred to as ‘politics’. In the case of the Church of England this general point takes a particular form in that some of the bishops sit in Parliament as members of the House of Lords and are expected to speak out on issues of the day.

But the question of how and why the Church should be involved in politics continues to arouse controversy. If the Church confines itself to ‘general principles’ (such as ‘love your neighbour’) will it be dismissed as being too vague? If it suggests specific things that need to be done (perhaps about levels of income tax, or overseas aid, or unemployment or homelessness among young people, or the treatment of prisoners) will it be accused of engaging in party politics or not knowing what it is talking about? Does the Church have to say things that are ‘distinctive’ and different from what is said by politicians or newspapers or should it simply try to be part of the public debate? What is the relationship between contributions from Church leaders, particularly bishops, from the General Synod, from ecumenical groups of Churches saying things together, and from individual Christians?

The General Synod tried to address these questions when it considered the report, The Church of England and Politics (GS 457, 1980). Although some of the material in it is rather dated (since it was drawn largely from experience in the 1970s) there is much of lasting interest. It is also instructive to see how many of the issues identified as important in 1980 are still hotly debated today.

One of the main examples of the Church of England seeking to contribute to informed debate and action was the report of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Urban Priority Areas, Faith in the City (CHP, 1985, no longer in print). This was debated by the General Synod in February 1986. The urgency of addressing the needs of minority ethnic groups both in the Church and in the wider society was debated in November 1986. The same Group of Sessions saw discussion on the establishment of the Church Urban Fund which has provided a practical means of following up some of the recommendations in Faith in the City. More information about the work of the Church Urban Fund can be obtained from the Fund’s Chief Executive, at 2 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3LX. See also the Church Urban Fund Web Site.

The follow-up reports, Living Faith in the City (GS, 1990) and Staying in the City (CHP, 1995) set out the progress made and the issues which still required attention. The need for the Church to attend to the particular issues in rural society was addressed in Faith in the Countryside (Churchman Publishing Ltd, 1990).

Considerable concern has been expressed in recent years about the role of local government. Faith in the City called for a real partnership between central and local government and between both of them and the voluntary sector. The question of the best way of financing local government has featured in several General Synod debates. The following motions were carried:

‘That this Synod, concerned at the trends in local Government finance, in particular Rate Support Grant Penalties and Rate-Capping, and Capital Expenditure Limitations, and the effects of these on the lives of many poor and disadvantaged people, requests that the Board for Social Responsibility

1. convey this concern to all Members of Parliament; and

2. inform the appropriate government departments of the concern of this Synod.’

’That this Synod

1. following upon the clear statement in the Green Paper Paying for Local Government of intention to "preserve the benefits of existing rate relief arrangements for charities in the form of a discount from collective community charges", views with dismay the failure of Her Majesty’s Government to carry this into effect in the Abolition of Domestic Rates etc (Scotland) Act 1987, and registers concern that the matter should be remedied in the forthcoming legislation for England and Wales; and

2. notes the widespread public concern about the possible effects of the proposed community charge, and asks the Standing Committee to arrange for a full and wide-ranging debate on these matters at the November group of sessions.’

‘That this Synod, believing that a flat-rate community charge is inherently unjust and fails to take sufficient account of ability to pay, calls upon those bishops who are members of the House of Lords to vote against the proposed legislation and to call for measures more able to protect the quality of life for all our citizens.’

‘That this Synod

1. welcomes the decision of HM Government to reform the domestic rating system; and

2. calls on HM Government to ensure that in assessing the new community charge consideration is given to the citizen’s ability to pay.’

In addition to such specific concerns as taxation (and other issues noted in this booklet) the Church has also sought to encourage a discussion of the ‘Big Questions’. The question of the values which our society might hold in common is an example. In 1985 the General Synod took note of the Board’s report, Goals for Our Future Society (GS 699) and the accompanying Consultative Document (GS 699A). A wide range of replies was received. A Working Party under the Chairmanship of the Archbishop of York produced Changing Britain: Social Diversity and Moral Unity (CHP, 1987) which was debated by the General Synod in November 1987. The following motion was carried:

‘That this Synod commends to all in the Church and nation the use of the study Changing Britain as a means for promoting dialogue within all the major arenas of public life about values and goals for our future society and asks the Board for Social Responsibility to carry forward this task’.

Among the most intractable problems facing British Governments has been the Irish question. The General Synod has only discussed the matter formally in November 1977, carrying the motion:

‘That this Synod commends the Board for Social Responsibility’s occasional paper, The Irish Problem and Ourselves, for study and discussion in the Church’.

More recently, in July 1989, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Rt. Revd Robin Eames, addressed the General Synod. Informal discussions also take place on a regular basis between the Board Secretary (together with representatives from other British Churches) and representatives from the Irish Churches.

Value Added Tax and Church Buildings

For a statement on VAT and Church Buildings, please see the heritage section.

EUROPE

Since the United Kingdom joined the European Community the Church of England has needed increasingly to define its role in a European context. In November 1972 the General Synod debated a report from the Board for Social Responsibility entitled Britain in Europe: Social Responsibility of the Church and passed the motion:

‘This Synod:

1. considers that British membership of a Community which (based as it is on a common understanding of human rights and liberties) counts among its aims the reconciliation of European enmities, the responsible stewardship of European resources and the enrichment of Europe’s contribution to the rest of mankind, is to be welcomed as an opportunity for Christians to work for the achievement of these ends,

2. welcomes the Prime Minister’s recent assurance that "aid and development planning on a European basis ... to make a more effective contribution to the improvement of living standards in the developing countries" is "one of the most important of the opportunities which membership of the Community will bring",

3. regrets the inability of HM Government to accept the recommendation of the Commission on International Development on commitments of official development assistance,

4. urges upon all Church members the continuing necessity for charitable giving in support of the developing nations, and for political action to encourage such policies as will demonstrate to those nations Britain’s effective concern for the improvement of their living standards, both now and when within the Community, and

5. welcomes the decision of the Board for Social Responsibility to co-operate with the Board for Mission and Unity in giving active support to the Europe ’73 Programme initiated by the World Development Movement.’

At the organisational level the formation of the Diocese of Europe in 1980 marked a significant step forward. In July 1990 the first Diocesan Synod Motion from the Diocese in Europe was debated by the General Synod. An amendment (moved by Archbishop Robert Runcie) was accepted by the Synod which passed the following motion:

‘That this Synod, in the light of current developments in Europe, invites the Standing Committee to examine ways of strengthening the Church of England’s ministry within Europe, and in the European Institutions, through the Diocese in Europe and by other means.’

In December 1994 the Synod was expected to debate a report which highlighted the growing involvement of the Church of England in mainland Europe.

Go to the top