Josie Pagani heads up her latest column for the Stuff newspapers with "Restoring politics as a broad church". Her general political point is that some of what we are seeing in politics such as Trump's resurgence in the USA (and, we might add, noting UK election results over the weekend, Farage's Reform party's success) is the result of a widening gap between those who opt in to running the place and those who opt out. Her overall argument is that "politics" needs to become a "broad church" - more inclusive of, and better recognising the plight of those who have opted out or, perhaps, just feel left out:
"Our politics cater to those who opt in. They see those who have fallen off life’s train, but they don’t know what to do for them. Governments throw them pity, at best, and the gap keeps widening between those who are part of the system and trust it, and the big chunk of people who have opted out and mistrust.
...
The more politics leaves people behind, the more unstable politics will become. Sooner or later, they will come for you.
Social observer Chris Arnade jokes that Donald Trump’s opponents are the kids who sit in the front row of class while Trump’s supporters are the kids at the back of the class.
...
To be a political party only for those who opt in, in a country where too many are opting out, will lose elections."
Pagani notices that, nevertheless, some hope from the centre-left is emerging as both Carney and the Liberals in Canada and Albanese and Labour in Canada and Australia have had solid wins in very reent elections.
But laced through her column are some citations of remarks made by Pope Francis who, of course, tried to make his church as broad as possible, with a special emphasis on inclusion of the poor and the marginalised. Thus Pagani notes:
"Pope Francis spent his life thinking about poverty, and how to reach the excluded.
He had a catchphrase, “reality is more important than ideas”. He wanted believers to move beyond abstract doctrines, and deal with the world and its people as they found them.
“Smell the sheep,” he used to say. Live and eat with the people.
... and ...
There is another politics that can reach people. Pope Francis said the church must be “a field hospital after battle”, a refuge and place of repair. It must “go to the peripheries, which are often filled with solitude, sadness, inner wounds and loss of a zest for life”."
These words resonate with me - a mere Anglican and not too sure whether I am centre-left or centre-right :).
Facing reality. Smelling the sheep - i.e. understanding people in the actuality of their lives - often messy lives. Taking care not to live in the world of ideas (or blogs!!) but among and with people. Church as a hospital more than a schoolroom; church as refuge more than a fighting vehicle; church with people difficult to love rather than filled with lovely "nice" people.
None of this is easy. All of this fleshes out the gospel stories in the 21st century. What does it mean for church to be "the body of Christ" - the living, breathing, perspiring (or smelly!!), sometimes bleeding, sometimes sore-muscled living expression of Jesus on earth.
Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed IN HIS CHURCH - the bodily resurrection of Christ.
All of this as we head to next Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday!
17 comments:
Thanks for the thoughts +Peter… well all this ties in very well with the ending of the last thread on process theology… Notwithstanding I had never heard of such a thing before although I can see how it melds in well with the core of the Gospel and how is lived out. On that note thanks Moya for the sharing of your journey.
The growing divide or inequality in NZ has been quite significant, I was rather annoyed (understatement) that when 90 plus wealthy NZ told the National government they wished to pay more tax it was largely ignored, not so much annoyed as I was with the tax cuts… I would have eagerly given my $4/week tax cut for the benefit of our current health system. I have been on a living allowance benefit for some years - health related - and it is truly an insight into the degree of vulnerability that comes when one’s life falls outside the mainstream. Through savings I had and family I am blessed, and thankful we at least do have a social welfare system in NZ although if people are on a benefit and renting I don’t know how they survive. For me the constant living with uncertainties in regards to provision with both rising prices especially the big things rates/insurance, what the current government will bring in next that might upend my ability to be able to keep my house (the last election was the first one I ever remember being scared regarding the result), whilst also dealing with the health issue does bring stressors takes its toll. I got convicted yesterday through a TV sermon that included the verse about worrying about what you eat, drink, live etc and instead to focus on the Kingdom! And it is a truth, all of this it has been a good challenge to keep and grow faith, and also to become aware of, through walking in the same world, just how many people similarly have had their lives upended from accidents, to looking after spouses to…. And also to see how much people contribute to the social if not economic well-being when they are not in full employment - helping sick neighbours who have no family, volunteering, or even chatting to a lonely neighbour or showing older people how to work their phones! Whenever a societies measure of success or status is placed on economics above well-being the value of people is diminished. Notwithstanding I recognise the economy and having a healthy one is important for countries.
I am afraid I always diverge from the topic at hand, for while there is economics and politics, experiencing God through interaction with people as through not only the eyes but the way of Jesus, through personal interaction, as the quote from St Francis you gave +Peter has been my experience of the sustaining bread of my spiritual walk…. Whether that was the lady who first ran after me to invite me to an Alpha course (much to my embarrassment and saying yes because I felt I couldn’t say no), to prayer meetings and words of knowledge, to Bible studies and prophecies, to praying for others, to being physically pierced by the two edged sword through scripture both read and preached, to receiving words of encouragement and care in grief that kept me going, to being prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something I would only later know the meaning of… Certainly ideas, debates, theologies, all bar scripture come behind the living out of faith.
As an aside I also recently came across a review of an intriguing book called The Service Berry - not a faith based book but one on ecology and how the ecology of nature mimics a gift economy of abundance as an alternative to scarcity and accumulation. It is interesting and perhaps has echoes of how I see life lived out in small towns, excess fruit and veg shared with neighbours etc but also has some similarities with the church as ‘the body of Christ’ each person given a gift that is necessary for the body to function or the early church where people gave and all received according to their need - here a quote:
“In a gift economy, wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away. In fact, status is determined not by how much one accumulates, but by how much one gives away. The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is “we” rather than “I,” as all flourishing is mutual.”
https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/the-serviceberry/
Yes, beautiful and true! The four guiding principles of Francis's papacy (and that come together in his vision of *synodality*), as per his first encyclical Evangelii Gaudium ("The Joy of the Gospel") were "time is greater than space, unity prevails over conflict, realities are more important than ideas, and the whole is greater than the parts." Realities are more important than ideas was not just a "catchphrase", as Pagani notes, but a deep theological vision and fidelity:
"Realities are greater than ideas. This principle has to do with incarnation of the word and its being put into practice…". (Evangelii Gaudium, paragraph 233).
Trump is finally revealing his full value: as a paradoxical enabler for the side of light! Could his moronic "AI Pope Trump" have won it for the reformist/Franciscans in the Conclave, the way Trump stole the Canadian and Australian elections for the centre-left?
lol he does rather seem to be having the opposite influence from what was intended : )
"For me the constant living with uncertainties in regards to provision with both rising prices especially the big things rates/insurance..." (Jean)
Our family budget keeps on being inadequate. We make our contributions a little bigger, and then in a few months it's not enough.
And that's two adults, both working. What of others with less? It's so tough.
I like your idea of a gift economy. We kept on bringing apples into church in autumn, not out of any great charity, just because we have so many. But they all went.
I once did a course on hands-on 'energy healing', the sort of course that would make Christians tut. They always had a produce table at the back where people brought in stuff from their gardens, jars of jam. Light on plastics and petrol for transporting good. It was lovely, old fashioned and hopeful.
We belong o The Lyttelton Library of Tools and Things..
https://llotts.myturn.com/library/
It's motto: "Borrow don't buy! It saves you money, it's easier on the planet and you'll make some new friends."
Hi Mark,
There is no doubt it’s tough out there at the moment for many people budget wise…. I was annoyed again last week lol you might see a theme but I do tend to get angry when I see cuts in areas of need when concessions are given to those in lesser need, an older friend 88 had her home help hours cut from 1 hour to half an hour a week. Not by local providers but by a Health NZ programme to re-assess everyone, although the re-assessment seemed to have little to do with need but that there was a new time-limit put on the help available for household tasks. She had already been warned by her care provider that this is what would happen and they said she would have to think about what she wanted done the most each time. She said she played the I am not in a good space card (which is truthful she has recently had a bad run) but it doesn’t come naturally to spill ones woes to a stranger necessarily … What came from that was the lady said she was concerned about her mental health! That’s hardly going to improve if one can’t keep up with regular household jobs! Carers hours will also be cut. It’s been one thing the current government has managed to keep quiet.
Ha ha not my idea but nice re the gift economy, sometimes I need a bit of re-framing of how I view things perhaps especially with all the information coming into our spaces these days. I liked the concept, and really when you see how many seeds one plant produces… and as you say with your apples when you have in abundance giving is less charity, albeit more the original charity (love) of sharing what we have been given in excess. And often is the case we may have excess of one thing or in one area and a need in others! Our strong kiwi sense of independence at times works against this I think.
lol well I might be one of the tut titters actually more so a cautious be careful one e.g. be careful what masquerades as harmless. The reason being due to my experience with Christians I have known, primarily immigrants ,who have had not so great experiences with such ‘spiritual arts’ before becoming Christians or helping those in their countries of origins who had. It certainly opens ones western eyes… notwithstanding I currently live over the road from a witch come (she is quite friendly : ) ) and my retired engineer neighbour is making a copper come crystal ummm thing for his son who wants to use it for an Indian healing art!!
I like the Library of Tools and Things a grand idea - a nice lateral expansion of Toy Libraries!!! And tools are expensive and some not often used!!
We have a new Pope! And a very interesting, promising choice. I'm very happy - and relieved!
A humble man, and yet, who not long ago, reprehended JD Vance for his inadequate moral theology.
As my cousin, who teaches theology in Panama, describes Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo IV: "The heart of a pastor, the smell of the sheep, but also a bit of experience in the Curia so he knows how to get things done in Rome."
I agree Mark. A good choice. Not a lurch to the right or left or somewhere else. Someone with street cred in a poor country, in the mysteries of Vatican life, and yet from Chicago. And, agrees with you and me, on our understanding of Catholic moral theology :)
I was moved by this small detail from an article I read in Slate:
"As Catholics waited for the new pope to emerge, Prevost prayed and dressed in his new papal garments in a room known as the “Room of Tears,” a name gesturing toward the heavy emotional weight of the realization of his responsibilities."
The complaining has begun: a conservative American Catholic media channel have been complaining that Pope Leo never once used English in his first address, and therefore "is he a 'real' American?"
My 'wrestling with tradition' has left me not wanting to strain or clumsily combine the three traditions (Anglican, Catholic, and Quaker) which feel part of my deeper 'being Christian'. That leaves me with paradoxes and differences - including some chunky doctrinal ones - but so be it. "Christ is one in all and not split up" (George Fox).
I've been inevitably thinking about and comparing the election of a new Pope with the selection (it's not an election, right?) of a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Anyone else have similar thoughts?
I really want to approach this in a way where I'm not trying to find "the best Christianity".
However, you've got to say....the Catholic process is very efficient, stunningly dramatic, and seems to really work...locked doors, white smoke, the grand reveal on the balcony, the new symbolic name. It really does unify and showcase Catholic Christianity, almost regardless of the final result. Like a middle-age couple renewing their vows, the cardinals renew their vows to the church, Pope, and each other. The faithful renew our vows to this colourful preservation of holy fire - being Catholic.
Look, I like it that women are in the running for ++Canterbury, and even think the committee process is quite cute, and very English. It seems to work too. But....might Anglicanism have one of two things to learn from a Conclave?
This is quite harsh, but makes the point...
https://youtu.be/K7w8nLEJh5U?si=WuD4eFjqtZ92RHGq
Yes, I've also (inevitably) been comparing. Being an outsider myself, I don't find what was said on the video harsh, it's what I think! Thanks for sharing the link.
To be honest I think the upper echelons of power in the CofE are corrupt and it's why we see corrupt fruit. Being braided in with political and monarchical power (the "Establishment") probably gets in the way of truly following the way of Jesus.
The various power centres seem to be adversarial much of the time - Archbishops, Archbishops Council, General Synod, Lambeth Palace. Also, such bitter divisions between different factions that their strongest unity has been in achieving ++JW's resignation - hardly a satisfying kind of accomplishment!
There's such a lack of trust within the CofE, as well as a loss of trust from outsiders too, that I think the whole structure needs an overhaul to be make it fit-for-purpose for the modern age. Actually, I think the rest of the Anglican Communion should leave them to sort out their mess. Like, withdraw from the Canterbury-led Communion. Perhaps set up an alternative Communion structure that removes the burden from struggling Canterbury (UK).
The alternative Communion could still have an "Archbishop of Canterbury" if +Peter were to become ++Peter with special responsibility for the alternative Communion!
Oh Liz, I don't feel as gloomy as you, which is somewhat of a different position for me - I'm not used to defending establishments! Clearly, there is widespread distrust, and open division between bishops - not just Helen Anne Hartley and, say, Stephen Cottrell, but also the accusations of sexual abuse from one bishop against the former bishop of Liverpool. In some respects, what a mess!
This is precisely when one needs a figure like a Pope, or the Bishop of Rome - in perhaps the original understanding of the Bishop of Rome, as the 'elder on the block' who steps in to adjudicate disputes between bishops.
It has been interesting to listen to cardinals' experiences of the conclave, as much as they can share them. The ones I've heard describe it as a quite tranquil, prayerful process, supported by being locked away from media, cell phones, and intermediary staff and figures. Maybe the bishops of the Church of England need something like that: to be locked up in a Welsh retreat centre for as long as it takes to work out their differences and find a way forward.
Hi Liz
I don't share your view that there is corruption in the upper echelons of the CofE.
Things are messy there (per Mark above); and there are some specific questions for one or three to answer and perhaps one day they will be answered, or they will remain constrained by privacy considerations etc.
Some are comparing the lack of an ABC to date with the comparative speed with which a well organised college of cardinals secured a Pope ... it may be worth recalling the cardinal who stepped aside because of significant questions about his past conduct; the all male [i.e. not representative of male and female in the Catholic church] nature of the college (and compare that to the so far complex but genuine attempts by the CofE process to have an appropriately representative set of reps from the Diocese of Canterbury and from the Communion).
In part, both questions at the moment re the CofE, (in summary) better bishops and efficient settlement of who to be ABC, would be well answered by the CofE stepping away from its "Establishment" driven process (names to the PM, thence to the King, etc) towards simple elections of bishops by synods (per Canada, USA, Oz, NZ - with some small variations between each of those churches).
Still making connections but I don't think I'm exaggerating.
Just to be clear, I referenced *various power centres* in the CofE in my previous comment so I wasn't just thinking about bishops. Bishops are in a difficult position - they *may* be subject to intimidation and bullying but *may* also have the power to dish out the same to others.
Also, it strikes me that people might read different things into the word corruption - I've found this definition which expresses how I think of it.
from Basel Institute on Governance (part of a longer definition):
Corruption is commonly defined as “the abuse of public office for personal gain” [...]
For the purpose of our work, and without claim to comprehensiveness, we consider corruption to involve not only the abuse of public office, but also the abuse of power and influence vested in a person as a result of holding a political office, of holding an influential role in a corporation, of having personal wealth or access to significant resources, or of having elevated social standing.
The complete definition is at:
https://baselgovernance.org/what-is-corruption
Re "Establishment" driven process.. and hazards thereof!
Yesterday I read about Peter Ball's appointment as Bishop of Gloucester - he wasn't the preferred choice of the selection panel - PM John Major made the decision to recommend Ball instead due to the influence of his appointments secretary...
Counsel to the inquiry Fiona Scolding QC read a letter from Sir Robin Catford - then Mr Major's appointments secretary - which she described as "a gushing paean to the wonder that is Peter Ball".
Lord Carey told her: "I find this deeply disturbing. The secretary was influencing the mind of the prime minister and going beyond his responsibilities.
"I didn't know this was going on. I find this quite appalling."
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-44937683
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