A "Strategic Leadership Consultation" was held in London from
5th-7th May 2005, at which leaders of church
networks and parachurch organisations from 10 European nations met
to discuss ways churches can involve themselves more in government
processes. The central questions posed by the consultation were how
the church can be involved in the political process without
becoming party political? And how can the voice of Christian faith
be heard on the social and political issues which shape
people’s lives? Reverend Steve Chalke, the founder of
Faithworks who has earned the respect of all of Britain's major
political parties for his social projects, says "access and
influence are based on whether we can help community leaders to get
results. Real trust begins in small places and is built on
trustworthiness." Mal Fletcher, Director of Next Wave International
and host to the Consultation, added "The church is often better
known for what it opposes than what it proposes! That needs to
change. As churches, we need to learn to produce better societies
by producing social reformers and activists. What sort of city, and
what sort of nation do we want to live in in ten years, and what
are we prepared to do to create that future?" Pastor McCauley,
leader of South Africa's Rhema Church with 32,000 members, joined
the Consultation by telephone. He asks the question "If our church
was not there, would our community miss it?" The result of the
Consultation were 14 statements of principle which the attendees
agreed to apply to their work in local communities, and is
available on the Next Wave International website
Source: www.nextwaveonline.com
