Diocesan Organisations

Board for Social Responsibility

Why we are here
We were set up by the Diocesan Synod
First of all we are here because the Diocesan Synod has set up this committee and appointed us to act on its behalf. The members of the Board, elected and co-opted, have a particular concern for and expertise in various social implications of the Gospel.

We are concerned about the social implications of the Gospel
There is one Gospel: that God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. It is probably not helpful to talk about a 'Social Gospel' but every phrase of the Gospel resonates with social as well as personal and all sorts of other implications.
It states God is and we proclaim the Christan encounter with God where we discover him at work as Father, Son and Holy Spirit,.one God in three modes of relationship who calls us to see all living as being in relationship - loving, concerned, just, interactive relationship.
It states God loves meaning we do not have a remote, uninvolved, uninterested Creator but a Father God who cares intimately for every being and aspect of his Creaton.
If God loves the world then there is a basic yearning in the heart of God for all to be well with his creation and this must be a concern for humans, as sentient creatures, and particularly for those of us who have come to know that love in a personal way through our relationship with God in Jesus Christ.
If God sent His Son to the world then he sends those who follow Jesus to follow through on their discipleship. We are not here just to be, or to enjoy but also to serve and to be sent, and sent not just to those who will readily accept us but to all who have any need. In sending Jesus God to all mankind our concern must be for all mankind, knowing perhaps, that some will not believe, but acting as of all have the right to believe.
God's desire is that we should all have everlasting life, not eternal life, but everlasting life, a concept which underlines, as so cogently argued recently by Bishop Tom Wright of Durham, that what God has stored up for those who love Him, will be not a kind of wispy spiritual existence but something like a perfected, full-blown outpouring of the best of what we can experience here now, physical and spiritual. As he has shown this gives us a real concern for our environment and its future as a sign of God's love and as the sphere in which we show our response to God's love. It also encourages us to deepen our relationship with God in every way, in worship and prayer and service.

We were given Areas of Concern
The Board is required to keep a watching brief, to develop suitable training or awareness programmes and to comment as appropraite on such issues as:
Personal Issues
    Budgeting
    Personal Development
    Spiritual development
    Disability
    Sexuality
    Chastity
    Right to life
        Abortion
        Euthanasia
    Addiction and Substance abuse




Family Issues
    Marriage
        Preparation
        Support
        Breakup
        Divorce
    Relationships
    Family Planning
    Crisis Pregnancy
    Adoption
    Foreigh Adoption
    Elder abuse



Community Concerns
    Hard Gospel follow on
    Sectarianism
    Quality of life
    Substance Abuse
    Suicide
    Inter-denominational relationships
    Inter-faith relationships
    Security
    Political involvment
    Disability Awareness
    Housing Issues
    Rights of neighbours
    ASBO's and unsocial behaviour
    Retributive Justice

National Legislation
    Justice Issues
    Treatment of minorities
    Racism
    Stem cell research
    Medical Ethics
    Genetic Engineering
    Tax Legislation
    Women's Rights
    Children's Rights
    The rights of the family
    Divorce and re-marriage
    Unemployment
    Censorship
    Adverising Standards
    Prisoners Rights
    Animal Rights

International Issues
    Militarism
    Globalisation
    Consumerism
    Fair Trade & Development
    Human Rights
    Control of the Web
    Terrorism & Freedom movements
    The use of Capital









Environmental Concerns
    Sustainable development
    Greening of the Church
    Global Warming
    Animal Rights
    Population Control
    Nuclear Power
    The use of Space
    Famine & Drought
    Use of Resources
    Pollution







Representation
We are required to liaise with and provide members to the other committees working in this area such as the Board for Social Action (Northern Ireland) and the Board for Social Responsibility (Republic of Ireland) which report to General Synod.

 What We Do   Resources Page