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Renewing the vision
Over 50 people gathered in the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Exeter to participate in a wide-ranging debate about Christian political engagement on the Left. The speakers on the panel represented the breadth of the political perspectives covered: Ben Bradshaw contributed his experience of government and traditional democratic representation; Tim Gorringe, priest and academic, added an intellectual depth of questioning; Simon Barrow spoke from his experience of engagement with the media and commentating on contemporary political trends; and Sue Errington added an important practical international perspective from her work at the Global Centre in Exeter.
After thoughtful contributions from each speaker, the panel discussed a range of substantial political issues rarely addressed in mainstream political discourse, such as the tension in Christian political engagement between “Kings and Prophets”, the conflict between economic growth and sustainable simplicity of lifestyle, and the frustrations of the present democratic system.
Following a break, small groups allowed the opportunity for everyone to discuss the issues raised by the day and put some of these concerns to the panel. These included integrity in political life, multiculturalism, youth engagement, Europe and fundamentalism. The day concluded, perhaps appropriately, with a discussion of how we might conceive of the Christian virtue of hope in an age that lacks optimism. Tim Gorringe reminded us that this involves the holding in tandem of a realism about the nature of sin with an enduring “hoping beyond hope”. The meeting closed with prayer for the coming of God’s will on earth in the saying of the Lord’s Prayer.
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