From the Revd Paul Nicolson
Sir, - It is encouraging to read about the unopposed support for
the motion at the General Synod affirming the theological
imperative of serving the common good (General Synod,
18 July); but there is within that commitment a theological
imperative to make a priority of working with and for our poorest
fellow citizens in the villages, towns, and cities of the UK.
That requires congregations actively to study and understand the
structures of local and national government which impose the
increasingly heavy economic burdens of in-adequate incomes and
unaffordable housing on already impoverished people - burdens that
create innocent suffering among a substantial minority of the UK
population.
A Synod motion affirming the common good which does not also
explicitly affirm the reform of the UK economy to ensure that there
is an affordable, decent home to rent or buy, and an adequate
minimum income available for every citizen, is too vague to be a
fully representative statement of the good news of Jesus Christ. He
chose to die among the rejected and impoverished, to endorse his
short life of teaching that they come first.
PAUL NICOLSON
Taxpayers Against Poverty
93 Campbell Road, London N17 0BF