Conversation Welcome

In readiness for the impending trigger of Article 50,four of the UK's largest Christian Churches, representing threequarters of a million members, are inviting their congregations totake part in discussions across the UK to explore what kind ofsociety we should be seeking to create.

At a time when the UK is moving towards exiting the EU, there isnaturally uncertainty about what our future as a country will looklike, whichever way people voted in the referendum. Churches arebeing invited to take part in constructive conversations about thesort of society we would wish to live in, and hope to leave tofuture generations. Talking about things where people disagree canbe difficult, so a pack - "Conversation Welcome" - has been providedto help.

The conversations will be held by local Baptist, Methodist, UnitedReformed and Church of Scotland churches. They are being promotedby the Joint Public Issues Team, through which the four Churcheswork together on issues of justice and inequality.

The resource pack is available here
http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/issues/eu-referendum/conversationwelcome/

Baptist Minister, Revd Phil Jump, who is coordinating theinitiative and an adviser to the Joint Public Issues Team,commented: "Conversations are important at any time but theextraordinary recent political events have made the need morepressing. The EU Referendum campaign has left some mourning theloss of an important identity, while others are delighted by theopportunities that lie ahead.

"The process of leaving the European Union means making manyimportant decisions that will shape the UK for years to come. Bytaking part in these conversations, people will discuss a vitalunderlying question - What kind of society should we be seeking tocreate?"

The Conversation Welcome discussion will suggest four questionsto explore: 
             
What sort of society do we want to leave for futuregenerations?
How should we treat others?
How should we use our resources?
How should we make decisions?

The conversations can be held in any group size and theresources include prayers, reflections and videos. 
 
Notes:

[1] The Joint Public Issues Team combines theexpertise of the Baptist Union, the Church of Scotland, theMethodist Church and the United Reformed Church in the area ofpublic issues, representing more than 800,000 people in theUK.

[2] To arrange an interview with Revd Phil Jump, pleasecontact Michael Ivatt on0207 467 5191 or email ivattm@methodistchurch.org.uk