lion&lamb: Back Issue

Introduction: Political Compassion?
Derek Poole

Silly Games with Flags
Alwyn Thomson

From the Director
David Porter

Church and Society
Lesley Carroll

Education
Mike Wardlow

Social Development
Doug Garrett

Environment
Tom Clarke

Wilson on Suffering
Alan Wilson

Finance and Personnel
Stephen Roper

Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Lawson McDonald

Faith and Practice - Esmond Birnie
Megan Halteman

Higher and Further Education
John Gillespie

Health and Social Services
Brian Coulter

Agriculture
Jack Patterson

Culture, Arts and Leisure
David Boyd

The Essential IVP Reference Collection

Embodying Forgiveness
ECONI Conference

Not of This World?
New Book

Summer School 2001

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POLITICAL COMPASSION?
Realpolitik in Northern Ireland is controversial, conflictual and morally ambiguous, therefore christian engagement with political power is a precarious and messy business. Yet despite the threat to the church’s integrity engagement is the business of the church as sure as God is engaged with the world. The biblical authorisation for such ‘worldly’ involvement is, of course, the doctrine of the Incarnation, where God in Christ enters into the raw realities of our fallen humanity. Consequently, God’s love for the world is reflected in the church’s participation in the social, economic and political realities that profoundly shape the lives of real people.

This expression of christian witness is often dismissed by those who promote a rigid dualism through the separation of faith and politics and misused by those who hold an unhealthy affinity between christian faith and nationalist ideology. The prophetic task of the church is to model a third way between the obsessive purity of separatism and the idolatrous tendencies of enculturation. This alternative way involves the ability to participate in the practical politics of necessity based on the realities of life, without abandoning the moral and ethical ideals of the gospel. Christians however must be careful not to confuse political agendas with the promises of the Kingdom of God. But equally we must not ignore the potential of democratic politics to promote a social environment that empowers and enriches people's lives. For a fulfilled and dignified existence is a legitimate concern of christian compassion, as the early church father. Athanasius proclaims, ‘the glory of God is humanity fully alive’.

Politics has been variously defined as the reconciling of a diverse range of interests; the management of social conflict; the fair distribution of resources; the promotion of welfare and the common good; participation in decision making and the exercise of power etc. These are values that we entrust to the role of government yet their outworking should be the concern of us all. For the art of politics is the art of nurturing relationships. Although healing the hurt and distrust that have marked the relationships of the people of this island cannot be left exclusively to politicians, the establishment of an inclusive and just polity is an important component in the healing process.

In this issue of Lion & Lamb we explore what we commonly call the ‘bread and butter’ issues of politics. We have sought to get behind the polemics of our fledgling Assembly to consider the political policies that affect the daily lives of ordinary people. In doing this we have invited a diversity of writers involved or concerned with the ten newly established departments of Government to comment on the policy and practice of these departments. The outcome is a hitch hiker's guide to the political institutions that are currently shaping the fabric of our society and on the way some insightful moments of christian critique.

Derek Poole - Editor

ECONI WELCOMES the submission of unsolicited articles, but does not guarantee publication, and manuscripts cannot be returned. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECONI. Permission to reprint any original article in Lion & Lamb should be sought from the Editor.

Editor Derek Poole
Asst Editor Ruth Hutchinson
Design Colin Maguire
Cover Spring Graphics