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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 15 May 2019. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
PARTNERING with other people in care for creation can be an important part of a church's witness and outreach, a way of practically showing the love of God and neighbour.
But how can we work effectively with partners in the community? And how can we build positive relationships with local politicians? At the end of May in Oxford, Christians from different churches came together to think through these questions.
In the morning Alice Hemming, coordinator of Oxfordshire's Community Action Groups network, and John Clements, from the Parish of North Hinksey with Botley, spoke about the way in which community sustainability groups operate and how churches can start their own or get involved with them. Inspired by examples like the Botley Community Fridge, participants brainstormed about activities their churches could undertake and community partners they might work with.
In the afternoon, leading environmental charity Hope for the Future ran a session on how to build a constructive relationship with your MP.
Using - for the first time - their newly published workbook, which brings together expertise gleaned from research and dozens of MP meetings, Director Jo Musker-Sherwood and Assistant Director Sarah Robinson discussed how parliament works, techniques that are effective in meetings, and how to continue a relationship beyond a single meeting. The afternoon culminated in a role play exercise in which a group of participants planned and carried out a meeting with Jo standing in as their MP.
The response to both sessions was enthusiastic. If you'd like to find out more or want to receive a Hope for the Future workbook, contact the diocesan world development adviser maranda@ccow.org.uk.