A Christmas reflection on kindness from our CEO Rev James Green
As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of our journey and to reflect on the hope that has carried us through.
At carol services around the country, people will hear the timeless words of the prophet Isaiah as he says:
‘For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.’Isaiah 9:6
More than half the world’s population live in a country where there has been an election this year. Many of them, where they have been free and fair, have been linked by the decision to elect an opposition party into power.
Recent events in Syria too remind us of the power of people to take control and begin to reshape their nation – though only time will tell what will emerge.
Times of change and transition can feel daunting, build uncertainty and create tipping points in our communities.
The violence across the UK this summer following the tragic events in Southport showed us how our disconnection from each other can be manipulated and weaponised to create even more harm.
These moments, however, also open us up to the possibility that our communities might become better places to live.
At our recent Network of Kindness event with Steve Chalke MBE, he encouraged us to remember that ‘the cement is wet’. There is a moment at the start of a new government for us to shape, influence and change the path our communities are on.
We can often think that we lack the power to make any significant changes and yet, if we work together, we will find that we have significant power.
Across the first 3 years of the Network of Kindness, we mapped over 480 social action projects being run within Anglican churches across the Diocese of Liverpool area.
We estimate that these projects support in the region of 660,000 people annually. If we were to take into account the work being done by all faith communities, we would see that these are amongst the biggest contributors of social action in the region.
Over the next 12 months, we’ll be marking the 40th Anniversary of the Faith in the City Report. This report outlined how the Church of England should respond to poverty in urban settings.
We’ll be sharing stories of the work that’s happening in local communities, exploring how faith communities can connect with civic leadership, and working together to write a manifesto that outlines our priorities for building a kinder, more generous and just society. We’ll be in touch in the new year to let you know invite you to be involved.
Isaiah is speaking both to Judah, Southern Israel, and also looking further into the distance and prophesying the birth of Jesus. At the time of Isaiah, Judah was oppressed by the Assyrians and hope of change felt far away.
He paints a picture for us of a people who have been walking in darkness and then, quite suddenly, light bursts out. The light isn’t an election or an uprising, but the birth of a child who will grow up to set the people free.
Change often comes from the small, fragile and seemingly insignificant.
The change in the distance that Isaiah points to, finds its home in Jesus. The ‘government’ that he prophesies of is the Kingdom of Jesus; built on feeding the hungry, visiting the prison and welcoming the stranger. Jesus doesn’t overthrow a government but instead instigates a new way of living.
The change we want to see doesn’t come from governments alone, but through our own decisions around how we want to live. Alone, it might feel like it makes little difference, but when the kindness we’re showing is taken as a whole we can see the impact we’re making together.
As we move into a new year together, let’s recommit ourselves to building stronger partnership, sharing our connections and showing kindness in everything we do.
Thanks, and we look forwards to connecting with you in 2025.
Rev James Green
CEO, Together Liverpool