Evangelical Head to Speak Out on Respect

The British government has highlighted its plans to tackle anti-social behaviour over the past few weeks, and to fight society’s increasing consumerism. In response to this, the General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Joel Edwards will now promote the organisation’s views on ‘respect’ to a wider audience.

|TOP|A series of lunchtime lectures will soon take place in Winchester over the coming weeks, and will see Rev Edwards focus on how Christians in the UK should respond to society’s obsession with instant gratification, materialism, community breakdown and violence.

The lectures come as the latest advancement of the Alliance’s campaign that was launched in Nov. 2005 aiming to restore respect into society. The EAUK looked to establish this by publicising positive examples of people that have demonstrated respect in working among those in their communities, families and church lives.

In addition, the Alliance is looking to challenge the government over policies that are undermining the ways in which respect can influence contemporary culture.

Rev Joel Edwards, said, “Respect has been elevated from street talk to the political platform. But respect is profoundly a creation idea. In biblical terms we reverence one another because we are made in God's image.

|QUOTE|“Respect is therefore the cornerstone of community cohesion, human rights or social policy. Respect is far more profound than the political constructs of 'racism' or 'sexism' and offers a more solid foundation for human relationships. Where respect goes missing, ASBOs appear.”

The lectures will take place under the theme ‘Space in the City’ and has been organised by a local ecumenical group.

The series of talks will be held on Wednesday lunchtimes across January and February at the United Church, Jewry Street in Winchester.

The first topic will be, ‘Respect is who you are, not what you have’. Followed by, 25th January, ‘Respect is the bedrock of community cohesion’, 8 February, ‘Respect is what you say I am’ and 15th February, ‘Respect is a state of mind and the responsibility of the state’.

|AD|Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled a number of plans for the new agenda of respect last week, and the Evangelical Alliance has stated that the new scheme is one which it hopes to support if it proves to facilitate and engender respect into the community.

However, the Alliance has also said that there is the danger that the respect agenda could turn into a short-term political gimmick.

R.David Muir, Public Policy Director at the Evangelical Alliance, said, “Respect cannot be imposed on individuals or communities; it has to be taught and caught from the good example of those around us, including the Government.

“If the Government is really serious about tackling the causes, rather than the incidence of anti-social behaviour and lack of ‘respect’ in society, it must do more to support agencies and groups who are seeking to mentor young people and families and instil values over the long term.”