Grace, Truth & the Common Good: a lecture in honour of Frank Field

“Church-based social action has grown significantly in the last 20 years, but it needs an appraisal. Too often social action projects can become disconnected from efforts for justice, deepen a sense of dependency in those they serve, and end up drifting in a secular direction.”

I am very honoured to have been asked to give a lecture for Together for the Common Good in memory of the late MP Frank Field, about the future of Christian social action. The title is Grace, Truth and the Common Good.

It is held on Monday 15th July and I am hoping that many readers of G+T can join online. Book your place here.

The lecture is one of a number of opportunities that has emerged since I published this longer article Justice, Empowerment & Faith: the future of Christian Social Action last December. I have had responses from a wide range of social action organisations and last week I had a fascinating meeting with a major NGO in Australia who wanted to discuss the points it raised in their context.

This is the way T4CG are describing the event:

Christian social action plays a significant role in alleviating the symptoms of poverty. But are we on the right road?

‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ Jer. 6:16

Growing poverty, homelessness and destitution in the UK bring us to a crossroads. And with profound social and political change and increasing inequality, questions around impact, power and authentic Christian witness need to be addressed.

At such a crossroads, we want to prompt an examination of conscience. To help us engage with these important questions, we have invited Jon Kuhrt to deliver a lecture that opens up a conversation across the churches and beyond. Grounded in his extensive experience as a practitioner, Jon will interrogate the issues for us, drawing on the wisdom of the Christian traditions, including Catholic social thought and the theology of Lesslie Newbigin.

The lecture will be held in memory of the late Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead for forty years. A committed Anglican, Frank was an outstanding parliamentarian and social reformer, unequalled in his dedication to improving the lives of people trapped in poverty. His work ranged from the groundbreaking Child Poverty Action Group, to lobbying for jobs in Birkenhead, from legislation for the Minimum Living Wage, to co-founding Feeding Britain.

Frank thought deeply about putting Christian theology into practice in a way that balanced grace and truth, and it was this that connected Jon with Frank. Frank was a friend of Jenny Sinclair, Director of Together for the Common Good, and encouraged the charity’s work.

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