The recent lawbreaking in various cities in England certainly filled the newspapers and media. There was no need for journalists to go searching for stories in what is customarily referred to as the silly season, writes Houston McKelvey, guest columnist of the Churches’ Pages in today’s Belfast published “Newsletter”.
The recent lawbreaking in various cities in England certainly filled the newspapers and media. There was no need for journalists to go searching for stories in what is customarily referred to as the silly season.
As well as following media reports on the developments, I monitored a Linkedin group of Church of England clergy and members, several of whom had worked and knew people who are working in some of the areas affected.
I was struck with the similarity of these experiences with some areas in Northern Ireland.
One cleric commented, “For those who ministered and know people who are still doing so in these places the church (with the wider community) is there cleaning up the mess and despite the cuts they are still running youth clubs, education programmes, community enterprise schemes, day care clubs for the elderly, and other special interest groups, life coaching for the unemployed, lunch clubs for the isolated, and a host of other initiatives… and on top of all this practical doing, they are worshiping, praying, and showing the value of spirituality, love and goodness in an increasingly secular society. Still teaching right from wrong.”
That to me is a description of churches of various denominations that I can readily identify in some of the ‘tight’ areas of Northern Ireland – in Belfast, Craigavon, Derry and elsewhere, where clergy and people have witnessed consistently well before 1969 and most certainly since then.
I could also understand the angst of these church folk in England at the “rent a quote merchants” who are keen to accommodate for the convenience of the press, and the “I want answers now people” who were and are never really bothered what the real questions were before the outbreak of violence.
But like here, the church in England – of various denominations – is about the only institution, the only caring agency who is still there, living in the streets and with the communities concerned. The C. of E. cleric also commented, “We don’t leave the tough areas when the going gets tough to go home at night to the nicer parts of town, we are there 24/7. But of course some journalists and bloggers and others will still talk of the church and say… ‘What is the church doing?’ ”
I was delighted to see the Prince of Wales visiting the affected areas and in particular those where the Prince’s Trust is working. The Trust has done similar good work in many areas of Northern Ireland.
His visit reminded me that some day the Prince of the Church is to return and when He does so, He will expect his followers to be about his business in these areas of hurt, confusion, illegality and major difficulties. When we who claim His Name and the salvation, love and forgiveness it brings, forget that basic fact, our witness falters.
In the agony and confusion of such places of witness, Christ the Prince of Peace requires us to be on active service. Thank God that in Ireland, Great Britain and around the world there are those who are. If you are not with them, why not join them?