As Christians, we know that seeking justice – and therefore speaking up against injustice – is central to our faith. We are called to call out oppression and to challenge unjust systems. God condemns those who oppress the poor, and wants justice to roll on like a river.
The promise of a just society can sometimes feel distant, but we should remember that the vast majority of us are striving to make things better for people who are struggling or suffering. None of us is comfortable seeing our neighbours or fellow citizens going without the things we all need.
Churches can and must put themselves at the heart of this work, serving as thriving community hubs and catalysts for change. For many years, Church Action on Poverty has been one of the organisations at the forefront of this effort, supporting and equipping churches and mobilising Christians. Together, we seek to move from reacting to crises to finding lasting ways to live more justly.
It is not enough to keep pulling people out of the river, nor simply to pray and hope for change. We need to go upstream, find out what (or who) is sweeping people into poverty in the first place, and take action there.
Over the years, we and our partners and supporters have achieved much together. We’ve seen major successes, for instance, in tackling high-cost lending, campaigning for the Living Wage, and in convening the powerful End Hunger UK campaign which put food poverty and hunger firmly on the national agenda.
And our Church on the Margins programme brings together a range of churches and denominations to put into practice the Gospel priority for the poorest and most marginalised in society. We recently launched the “26 in 26” project with Christian Aid, helping churches to find new ways to focus on justice issues. Our Speaking Truth To Power programme supports people with experience of poverty to press effectively for meaningful change, locally and nationally. And our Your Local Pantry network enables churches and community partners to open member-run food hubs in 120 neighbourhoods across the UK, including one in Essex and three in East London. These are making incredible differences to communities – members typically save £27 a week, and in a recent survey 82% of people we spoke to said they felt more connected to their community, 63% feel more confident and 75% are eating more fresh fruit and veg.
As the cost of living scandal continues, there has never been a greater need for churches to unite in a national social justice movement, nor a greater need for active hope. We’re eager to bring churches together, to identify and call out injustice, and to help people improve each other’s lives together.