A meeting was held yesterday at Lambeth Palace between the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum (who joined via video from Jerusalem), and the President and Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. They discussed issues affecting Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem, as well as issues of concern to the UK Jewish community.The leaders talked about the importance of honest dialogue between their respective communities, even around difficult issues.They agreed to explore the setting up of an informal working group to develop significant opportunities for deeper connection between the UK Jewish community and the Church of England, and with Christian communities in Israel. These will focus on dialogue, education and engagement.Archbishop Justin underlined his ongoing commitment to working together with the Jewish community to combat antisemitism and to Holocaust education and remembrance, and the application of the IHRA definition.
The General Synod has given unanimous backing to a call for the Government to ensure the protection of child survivors of trafficking after hearing of fears that the Nationality and Borders Bill could leave more children unprotected and at risk.Members voted 331 in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions, both to acknowledge the ‘leading role’ that the Government has played internationally in challenging slavery - while calling on the Government to ensure the proper protection of minors who are trafficked and enslaved.The Synod also voted to encourage all dioceses, deaneries and parishes in the Church of England to raise awareness of modern slavery. Members further called on people to pray for the victims and survivors of slavery and trafficking and all those organisations who work to help and support them.General Synod member Alistair Bianchi, introducing the debate at the Synod, said progress that had been made in tackling modern slavery and protecting children who have been trafficked risked being endangered as a result of measures in the Nationality and Borders Bill.There are ‘considerable concerns’ that the lack of attention paid specifically to protecting children in the Bill – currently before Parliament - could have a negative impact both on child survivors of trafficking and children subject to the immigration system who are at risk of exploitation, he told the Synod.“This can be seen in the Bill’s creation of a new ‘slavery or trafficking information notice’ which would be issued to potential victims of modern slavery claiming asylum, setting out a limited time in which a potential victim must provide information to ensure they don’t damage their credibility. “This disregards the impact of trauma on the ability of victims, especially children, to recall relevant details. In addition to this, the proof required for a reasonable grounds decision will likely increase with the bill, further excluding children from support.”Mr Bianchi was speaking on behalf of Durham Diocese, which campaigned successfully in 2018 to prevent a young man ‘Stephen’ -not his real name - from being deported back to Vietnam after he was trafficked into the UK as a child to work on a cannabis farm.“While there have been developments in government policy since this motion was first raised in 2018, there remains a great deal of concern about the outcomes for trafficked children, particularly as they transition to adulthood – as exemplified by Stephen’s case,” he added.In his speech, he highlighted the work of the Clewer Initiative, the Church of England’s campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery and help support survivors and vulnerable groups.
I was reminded recently of a Ghanaian proverb which says:‘Even the chicken, when it drinks,Lifts its head to heaven to thank God for the water’Behind this proverb lies the observation that not only chickens, but most birds, drink by gravity. That is, they dip their beak in the water, take and hold a sip of it, and then lift their heads high in the air until the water trickles down their throat. Of course, they are not literally thanking God for the water, but they look as if they are, and Ghanaians have turned their action in to a parable.Gratitude is certainly a godly virtue, which should characterise all the people of God. True, during their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites were continually complaining against God and against Moses. Yet in later liturgical worship of the Temple one of the commonest refrains was <em>‘O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good’</em>, with the congregational response <em>‘for his love endures for ever’</em>(Psalm 136). During his public ministry, when Jesus healed ten men suffering from leprosy, he expressed astonishment that only one of them came back to give thanks. As those who have tasted the grace of God, gratitude should arise spontaneously within us. So, when Paul prayed for his Colossian friends, he included the petition that they might be <em>‘joyfully giving thanks to the Father’ </em>(Col 1:11-12) for their salvation and for all other blessings too.It seems that no matter where we look there is so much around us that can so easily lead us to grumble. Let’s choose to be different. Let’s choose to practice gratitude.
