The details on this page have been developed through a series of
discussions with people involved in the Forum for Change 'Politics
and Social Action' sphere.
We identified the need to plan a public meeting for the
Christians who are interested in politics and social action. Our
plan for the first meeting currently looks like this, but if you
would like to suggest any changes please contact Paul.
Basic Details
The basic details of the first meeting.
Name: Bristol Christians in Politics and Social Action
Date: Tuesday 28 April 2015
Time: 10.30 - 12.30, followed by an optional light
lunch finishing at 1.30
Place: City Road Baptist Church
Cost: no cost, but donations invited to cover the costs
Agenda
The current draft agenda.
Welcome: welcome and introductions (10 minutes)
Vision: briefly share the current (draft) vision for
this sphere (20 minutes)
News: summarise the most important current events,
activities, opportunities and challenges (20 minutes)
Keynote Address: Marvin Rees will talk about his plans,
and where the wider church community fits in (20 minutes)
Feedback: discussion about what has been presented so
far; other ideas and suggestions; future meetings (location,
frequency, topics) (30 minutes)
Prayer: together or in small groups, depending on
numbers (10 minutes)
Plan: we will need to build a steering group to take
things forward – who wants to be a part of it? (10 minutes)
Food: time afterwards for networking and to build
relationships.
Vision
We need to be clear what we are meeting for. This will need some
discussion but here is a starting point for that discussion.
Information: collate what is happening in this sphere,
and circulate it to those who are interested.
Promotion: encourage more people to get involved in
some aspect of politics and social action (God is calling you and
all his children to love and care for others – how are we
going to respond?)
Challenge: address the assumptions most people have
about politics and politicians, counter the belief that people
only get involved in politics for selfish reasons (How do we
establish motives and integrity?)
Education: for people who are involved, explore and
explain how to do it well. (How do I ensure that I am following
Jesus and building His Kingdom, and am not just following my
own preferences and prejudices?)
Support: help and encouragement for those on the front
line – you are not on your own.
Networking: an opportunity to build relationships.
Voice: speak to those in power on behalf of Christians
and other faith groups, the weak and vulnerable; help to negotiate
a way for people to express and live their faith in a secular
society.
Communication
It would be very helpful to know who is planning to attend, and
to have your help in publicising it and encouraging people to come
along.
We would also like to hear from you, whether you can come to the
meeting or not. Your thoughts and ideas will be fed in to the
meeting, and also into the follow-up activity afterwards.
Please register to let us know you are planning to attend the meeting.
Please connect with us on Facebook
and encourage your friends to come.
