Racism and prejudice have no part to play in British politics

Britain's economy, like many round the world has been in a mess. Politicians at local government level have begun to address the problems that this has caused them with pay freezes, and redundancies. When jobs become vacant they may not be filled. Budgets have to be balanced and a very difficult task it is as the most vulnerable in society require more help. With the increase in referrals, and in awareness of risk factors with regard to children and parenting, costs to childrens services budgets keep rising. Directors of Childrens Services jobs have become more challenging as individual need outstrips ability to meet that need and the accountability of that role has never been higher. As we think about children at risk either in local authority care or on the at risk register, and those on the periphery of awareness of the local authorities such as those who are helped in chldrens centres and parenting courses,we look to the local authority, and the local childrens safegurading board to ensure their safety. Budget savings are more likely to come from work with those deemed at least risk meaning that early intervention in respond to parental need is less likely to be able to happen. There are other groups in society that vie for the unenviable position of the most vulnerable in society, but looked after children are the statutory responsibility of the local authority, and the government in assessing the quality of local authorities has to take account of how well they undertake safeguarding as it is a limiting judgement. The minor prophets in the old testament called upon sociey to look after widows and orphans, and strangers. Those groups were the most vulnerable in Hebrew society, and most at risk.
Political parties as a general election approaches will have to try and balance the budget and think about beginning to repay the money that has been borrowed. Is there room to think creatively and imaginatively, to limit cuts to services to the most vulnerable or to increase opportunities for social care for them? How can we offer more and better services for less money? How can we do the impossible except by working together?
There are no easy answers, and there is no specific Christian agenda for our political life, only principles such as justice equality, fairness and questions that all parties need to answer. Churches have a role to play in asking questions, and to ensure that all members of society are valued irrespective of their differences. Racism and prejudice have no part to play in British politics, nor in the Church which always tries to look outwards while facing financial and other challenges of its own. Whatever budget challenges society face the church will have to face similar challenges as pension forecasts are down, parish share unpaid, and expenditure outstrips income year on year. Giving is a high proportion of church income, with most of the rest being made up of fees. Unless there is an increase in church-going - not an impossible thing if the American trend to religion comes over here, or if revival breaks out - giving will need to increase or budgets shrink. Shrinking budgets mean fewer parochial clergy, and staff servicing the parishes at diocesan offices, or it means posts such as that of university chaplain will be cut, which is a travesty and a huge impediment to the church's mission. Think yellow, a chaplain whose post has been cut by Winchester diocese, to its huge shame and the detriment of God's church now. http://darksidechaplaincy.blogspot.com/