“I grew up in a culture that told me that on the inside of the church we were spiritual and that on the outside of the church they were cold and secular and weren’t the least bit interested in spirituality,” continued Chalke, the ministry’s founder, as he urged Christians to tap into the flourishing interest in spirituality within their local communities.
“We’ve discovered that there is a deep sense of spiritual longing rampant in every community. The challenge of the church is how to connect to that, instead of being irrelevant to it.”
He added that Britain’s “tired democracy” was not the answer to many of the country’s social woes.
“It needs to become about volunteering and active engagement and the church can be a strong player in that. But we’ve got to show up and deliver. It’s our responsibility.”
In the morning session, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears told the Faithworks conference on Friday morning that there was a “big role” for faith groups to play in rejuvenating local communities.
“I think a lot of the time the churches are the first to step in and provide practical support to neighbourhoods which are facing huge and complex social challenges,” she told Faithworks supporters, as she listed poverty, substance abuse and gang violence as just some of the difficulties.
“It’s about faith inspiring practical action,” she said, acknowledging that the Government had failed to utilise the passion and energy of faith groups in the past.
Ms Blears also admitted that the Government did have a number of concerns over faith groups, particularly as to whether partnership with one faith group would isolate other faith groups, as well as questions over whether faith-based public services could be relied upon to serve everyone regardless of individual beliefs.
“These are legitimate questions but I believe they are answerable and that we can find the right way through. It’s because we’ve started to answer them that we’ve come to a more mature understanding of the role of faith groups in our communities and the contribution that they can make,” she said. “Faith groups can and should be part of the response to the big challenges.”
Ms Blears went on to assure Christians that local authorities had started to recognise the contribution that faith groups can make and were making efforts to improve their relationships them. Government is “genuinely welcoming your contribution”, she told them.
