17th INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP GATHERING 2023
Purley, 30 July – 6 August 2023
Background paper for partner churches
Introduction
In 2016 our 5 churches signed a Declaration, setting out what the Partnership is for, and including a number of commitments. The statement on purpose and the commitments are both given at the end of this paper.
In 2018 a Youth Gathering in Purley wrote a credal statement, which in a different way also tried to embody what Partnership believes in. A copy of this is also attached.
Since 2016 much has changed in the world. Known problems have become much more acute, and new problems have arisen to complicate life for everyone and for every government. As we finally meet again as a Partnership of churches in 2023, we seek to understand these problems as fully as we can, and to discern what we as Christians should be saying to our governments and to our people.
This paper sets out some suggestions for questions that we can use in our congregations before the Gathering, to help us to be ready to come together in Purley to talk about what we can and should do. The issues are complex, so it will be helpful if we all learn as much as we can about them, so that our discussions may be searching and relevant.
The problems
The world faces many problems, and all of them affect each other, making the total situation more serious than any one problem would do alone. In our own thinking ahead of the Gathering, we have identified the following as being among the most important.
- Global temperatures are increasing, mainly due to the growth in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – this is creating more extreme weather around the globe, raising sea level by enough to threaten many coastal areas and island states, and threatening to cut crop yields in many of the main food-producing areas. It may make some places uninhabitable.
- Many natural resources (e.g. sea creatures that form an integral part of the food chain) are running short, while waste materials are polluting the land, the seas and the air. One effect of this is the potential extinction of many species of animals and plants. There is a likelihood that we will lose biodiversity, which may undermine the natural ecology of the planet.
- There is a growing gulf between rich and poor, both between rich and poor countries and within each country. This is true both in terms of material wealth and in terms of societal and economic power. Increasingly the rich have lost contact with ordinary people, so those in power are liable to make decisions that affect people without having any real understanding of the possible damage those decisions can do.
- Simultaneously the pace of change has increased, particularly in technology and employment, which has removed many people’s sense of security and belonging, so people are becoming more insecure and more fearful.
- There is a rising tide of antagonism and violence, in many communities and in many countries. Civil wars and territorial wars rage in several area of the globe, and tensions are often high even where there is no war. Many countries are looking to close their borders in order, as they see it, to protect themselves and their people, or to institute strong measures against possible terrorists.
Some questions
Are the problems listed above the most serious ones, or are there worse ones that have not been mentioned?
How do these problems interact with each other?
Which are the most important? Can we sensibly concentrate on just one or two of them?
What should we as Christians contribute to the political, societal and economic debates around these areas? How can we do so?
How can we as Christians place before people a credible alternative to how things are at present, to encourage them to change their ways?
Next steps
We invite you to spend some time considering these questions over the next couple of months, individually and in small groups in your congregations, so as to be ready for discussions at the Gathering. Aim to understand each of the areas, to recognise the scale of the problem, in your country and community and across the world. It may be helpful if you can offer some examples of specific issues. If you cannot come to the Gathering yourself, you can still contribute to discussion within your church.
Purley URC is planning how the Gathering should address itself to these vast topics. We aim to concentrate on two aspects in particular
- The damage humanity is doing to creation, and how to restore our natural world.
- The continuing deepening of the gulf between rich and poor, and its effect on those people who are on the wrong side of it.
Near the end of the Gathering we shall invite each church to spend time working out a plan of action, so that whatever we have learned gets put to use back home. In doing this, we hope that we will find that there are some common actions or witnesses that we can take on as a Partnership, that will help to frame our continuing development in the coming years.
Purley, April 2023
Declaration of an International Church Partnership – 2016
The Purpose of our Partnership
Partnership acts as a focal point in all our congregations for:
· Continuing our commitment to peace and reconciliation in line with the origins of the Partnership. This is demonstrated through our dealings with other Christian communities and other faith groups (“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”- 2 Corinthians 5 v.18)
· Developing an international Christian understanding and perspective on issues of justice, peace and the integrity of creation (“Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you.” – 1 Peter 3 v.15)
· Establishing deep and sustainable friendships and contacts which provide a framework for understanding, mutual support and encouragement (“…all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” – 1 Peter 3 v.8 )
Our Partnership Commitment
We honour the legacy of those whose original vision it was to achieve post-war reconciliation and mutual understanding, which the Partnership made possible. To sustain this treasure, we commit ourselves anew:
1. to uphold the purposes of our International Partnership in a changing world
2. to nurture together the development of our International Partnership in ways that ensure its relevance to present and future generations
3. to explore together, theologically, spiritually and personally, what it means to be committed to one another in Partnership and what it means to be committed to the tasks of reconciliation and peace
4. to promote our International Partnership within each congregation as a relationship that all are involved in, not just the few
5. to be part of God’s ministry of reconciliation.
“May they all be one…” – John 17 v.21
Youth Week Creed – Purley 2018
We don’t believe in war
We don’t believe in conflict
We don’t believe in violence
We believe in kindness and helpfulness
We believe in fairness and thoughtfulness
We believe in co-operation and caring
We believe in tolerance and understanding
We believe in rainbows and making music together
We believe in mindfulness and forgiveness
We believe in making friends and being inclusive
We believe in patience and making compromises
We believe in being flexible and in good communication
We believe in being open-minded and welcoming change
We believe in sharing and looking after each other
We believe in respect for each other and respect for differences
We believe in working together and keeping others’ feelings in mind
We believe in shoeboxes and food parcels
We believe in peace
We believe in reconciliation
We believe all you need is love
