Misc
Government cuts and the vulnerable around us.
by Steve Casey on Sep.20, 2010, under Misc
Historically, the church has often lead the way in bringing dignity and life-enhancing opportunity to the vulnerable and disadvantaged. But as the welfare state and social justice agnedas have developed the government have taken a lead role in meeting those very real needs. We should celebrate this. However, as government cuts are being imposed on all areas of public service it is inevitable that gaps will emerge in their provision and, alarmingly, it will be the vulnerable on estates like ours that are least able to mobilise themselves in response.
3 examples that i have encountered in the last 7 days.
- The local secondary school faces the possibility of losing staffing and activities around key areas in schools facing challenging circumstances such as attendance support, extra-curricular provision and pastoral support. The impact of this will be felt most accutely in schools of this nature.
- The local daycare provision for those with long-term disability and mental health issues is being centralised, hence making it signicantly more difficult, in not impossible, for the most needy to access.
- The budget for elderly and shut-ins support is being reduced, so that those most isolated will become more so.
The government have peddled the idea of drawing on social capital to plug the gaps. I couldn’t agree more, but I can’t see it myself.
But perhaps this is an opportunity for us as churches in these communities to show our distinctives, and to demonstrate in practical ways the very Gospel that we are so proud to speak about. Our Gospel says that while we were spiritually at our most vulnerable, with the least to offer and the most isolated from the Lord, Christ gave Himself for us. He got mobilised. What will it look like for us to model practically this Gospel to our communities as we continue to preach it faithfully?
Historically, we often led the way in building social capital that made the most difference to the most needy in society. We got mobilised. Perhaps we need to be praying for wisdom to know where and how we can show this Gospel, as well as preaching it.
