A brand new report, published last week, written by Theos and commissioned by the Free Churches Group, asks the bold and provocative question, “What do Brexit, Black Lives Matter, loneliness and austerity have in common?” The answer, to emerge from the findings of this new report, asserts that, “They are all social cohesion issues”.
But what is social cohesion? How might you define this?
The working definition, used for the purposes of the report, suggests it is the “strength of our collective relationships”; that is to say, “what binds us together beyond our immediate social circles, whether in times of celebration or challenge. In more concrete terms, how far do you feel your own well-being is tied to the well-being of a person you have never spoken to, but who is sat next to you on the bus?”
I wonder, does this definition chime true with what you came up with?
So many issues and circumstances impact our lives and communities, such as the ways that COVID-19 has affected us, the debates and discussions around Black Lives Matters, the crucial and heart-breaking effects of loneliness and the deliberations and divisions in the Brexit debate; working these matters out are all core to how our society seeks to function well and are core to social cohesion. As Pastor Agu Irukwu, from The Redeemed Christian Church of God, says, the report is a welcome resource for our churches at a time when we are “dealing with [these] complex, emotional and often painful issues”; the report, he says, offers us encouragement and lays the foundation for the potential for greater social cohesion.
The report, which you can download and read in full, says, “At heart, social cohesion is about which communities we feel part of – locally, nationally, internationally, and even virtually – and how coherently these communities interrelate. It is about how connected and accountable we feel to others across society, and how fairly opportunities are distributed. It is about whether, and to what extent, we feel we belong. Simply, it is about how effectively we nurture what is most precious to us: the strength of our collective relationships.”
Social cohesion, the report goes on to say, “affects every aspect of our lives from happiness to economic flourishing. It has been towards the top of the policy agenda for several decades, over which time British society has become more culturally and ethnically diverse, older, less equal, and more geographically mobile… Time and effort are required to bring people together and nourish cohesive communities, and there is work to do.”
I wonder what part faith groups, and in particular our churches, might play in harnessing and garnering the potential in our communities and be the bridges for fostering social cohesion?
The report asserts that, “The nation’s churches have the potential to offer this time and effort in abundance,” but goes on to say that “neither the churches’ community contribution nor its wider potential have been considered in detail by policymakers,” so that is why the Free Churches Group commissioned Theos to assess the impact of churches on social cohesion in October 2018. The report has been commended from a broad base church leaders, MPs and community activists.
In the coming weeks, we will explore the report together, in greater detail, and see how our churches can fully engage with the issues emerging from the findings in the report, as well as find out ways we can activate our church leaders and congregations in developing how we work towards social cohesion and build stronger communities.
Article written by Rev Sara Iles
FCG Media Support Officer & Minister with the Congregational Federation