Signal and Accord

Today, my wife Beth and I had the opportunity to be at a gathering where the Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband would be answering any questions. We’re still not sure how we managed to be invited (we’re not registered Labour supporters or anything like that), but everyone else there seemed to be involved in the party to some extent or other.

The questions were interesting, although you can probably guess what most of them were. I was struck that Miliband seemed very keen on giving “real” answers to specific questions, so, he posited that if Labour return to power… buses will not be re-nationalised, but will be under the rule of a public body in each area (much like Transport for London). That student fees will be limited to £6,000 to begin with. That the EMA will be reinstated. Beth and I both felt reassured in a way that perhaps we had not been recently that some politics are aimed at improving the world.

I asked (as the final question no less!) in the light of Jesus’ assertion that whatever we do to the least of humanity, we essentially do to him, how Mr Miliband hoped to address foreign policy with regard those places that already struggled on a lower than basic subsistence level - The Sudan, Palestine etc. I especially wondered what a post-Oil society would look like either with or without our intervention in these places now. He replied that he agreed that much had to be done with regards the future, particularly the changes that are imminent in the world. The man next to me wasn’t impressed with his answer, but we had completely run out of time.

My reason for reporting this is that we have a calling, to start to think politically, and to start to think politically away from our own doorstep! 

This is to announce a new project, in the city of Exeter, Devon.

Signal and Accord is part of The Methodist Church in Britain. S&A is a fledgling Christian community, outside of the boundaries of existing church. As well as study and prayer, the aim is to promote social justice through understanding and actions, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

It is our belief that Jesus meant what he said “Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as you love yourself”.

S+A is anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic, anti-bigotry, anti-imperialist and pro-human. We also acknowledge the current struggle within Western society, and hope for, and hope to contribute to a way forward where greed is put in check, and need is a thing of the past.

Practically, S+A is part a journey of disciples of Jesus through faith and belief, and partly an outworking of what this faith compels us to do in a practical sense.

Signal and Accord is part of the Venture FX scheme, a movement of Fresh Expressions of church, within the Methodist Church in Britain.