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News
 21 June 2010
Churches and charity urge government to make tax fairer
Leaders from the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, together with the Christian charity Church Action on Poverty (CAP), are calling upon the chancellor to make a thorough revision of the taxation system a central part of Tuesday’s budget. The four organisations are specifically calling for Mr Osborne to make changes to ensure that taxes are shared fairly amongst all tax payers.
Under the current system the poorest pay around 46 per cent of their income in taxes, compared to the 34 per cent of income paid by the wealthiest. An equal sharing of this tax burden is the very least that fairness demands, the group said.
In common with CAP, the three denominations have a natural concern for the poorest and weakest in society and a long tradition of campaigning on issues of justice and fairness. John Marsh, moderator of the general assembly of the United Reformed Church, said: “It’s clear that our country’s fiscal deficit should be tackled and I have no doubt that deep cuts will be announced in Tuesday’s budget. There are only two way to reduce the deficit – increase the money coming in and reduce the money going out – and we urge the chancellor to consider the moral dimensions of both.”
Building on this, Paul Morrison, policy adviser for the Methodist Church, said: “We believe that paying fair taxes is the moral duty of all. However, it’s possible legally to side step that moral obligation: for example, some footballers currently playing in the England World Cup squad in South Africa get part of their earnings paid into ‘image rights companies’ – thus avoiding UK income tax on some of their very high wages.”
Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, added: “It is the duty of the government to levy taxes fairly on those who can afford to pay and it is the duty of those who can pay, to pay their fair share. There are many legal ways to reduce a tax bill but we are asking, when public services are being cut and many are losing their jobs, is this ethical? Are these measures legal? Yes, perfectly. Is it fair? Absolutely not!”
In the next few months Church Action on Poverty will be working with a number of groups applying the Fairness Test to individual changes in tax and spending. This test will apply simple values of justice to spending cuts and tax rises:
• Are the people affected by cuts the ones who benefitted from the boom?
• Can the people affected afford the cuts?
• Are the people contributing tax the people who benefitted?
• Are people contributing tax proportionate to their ability to pay?
Niall Cooper, national coordinator for CAP, said: “Raising fair taxes puts justice and morality at the heart of domestic economic policy, not only protecting the essential services that the most vulnerable members of our society rely on, but also rectifying the inequalities built into our taxation system.”
28 May 2010
Churches disappointed by weak commitments on nuclear disarmament
An alliance of nine UK Churches has expressed disappointment at the failure of nuclear weapons states to agree deadlines for actions on nuclear disarmament.
While the Churches welcomed progress made on discussions on the Middle East and a declaration by the UK on number of warheads, they were highly critical of the refusal of the nuclear powers to agree timeframes for future discussions at the conference in New York, which ended today.
Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, said, “Nuclear weapons are a legacy of the cold war era and have little relevance to the threats that we face today. There is a growing recognition that having one set of rules for some nations, and a different set of rules for everyone else is unsustainable. Moving towards the elimination of nuclear weapons is not only morally right but the best possible guarantee for our nation’s security.”
The Churches' campaign, entitled Now is the Time, calls on the British Government to make a commitment to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, building a safer future for all.
Revd David Gamble, President of Methodist Conference, said: “Consensus on non-proliferation is a major achievement, and one that reflects a growing understanding that nuclear weapons are a threat, not a guarantee, to our security. But in failing to agree a timeframe for further discussions, world leaders appear simply to be paying lip service to the concept of nuclear disarmament. We didn’t expect the conference to produce a detailed plan for banning nuclear weapons, but we were looking for a commitment to move forward on the issue. The International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament and a whole host of others, from NPT state parties, former ambassadors and NGOs have all produced versions of a road map that could take us to zero nuclear weapons. The nuclear states stand alone in shying away from discussion of the detail.”
Revd Pat Took, President Designate of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said: “If the nuclear armed powers do not go further to demonstrate that they are prepared to relinquish nuclear weapons, then the existing international commitments on non-proliferation could unravel, leaving us all in a much more dangerous and insecure situation. The call to work towards a world free of nuclear weapons comes not only from the majority of the world’s governments but also overwhelmingly from people of all nations. I pray that we will raise our voices loud enough such that our governments have no choice but to be spurred into action.”
The three church leaders were a part of a delegation that delivered a petition to the Prime Minister at Downing Street on Wednesday. The petition urged the UK to declare a ‘no first use’ policy and to support the process for negotiation of a new international agreement leading to the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
The alliance includes the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the United Reformed Church, the International Affairs Department of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland and the Archbishop of the Church in Wales.
30 April 2010
Mayor of Hiroshima says Now is the Time to end nuclear weapons
Endorsing a campaign by UK Churches, Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba of Hiroshima has stressed the crucial role of British citizens in ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
The Mayor’s statement came just days before the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, which will take place May 3 to 28 in New York. He said, “There is a danger that we consider nuclear weapons to be simply an unfortunate fact of life we can do nothing about. This would be a grave mistake. Now is the time to map out the road to global zero. At the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference our governments must clearly demonstrate their stated commitment to the elimination of all nuclear weapons.”
The campaign, entitled Now is the Time, has invited people to sign an online petition (at www.endnuclearweapons.org.uk) calling on all governments to demonstrate their commitment to a nuclear weapons-free world at the forthcoming conference. The Churches are pressing for governments to put all bomb-grade material under international control and commit to making the use and possession of nuclear weapons illegal through a new Nuclear Weapons Convention.
Steve Hucklesby, Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church in Britainsaid “Presidents Obama and Medvedev have signed an agreement to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear warheads. This reflects a growing public desire to see the brakes come off multilateral disarmament negotiations. We hope that the Review Conference will be an opportunity for our voices to be heard through the many non-governmental organisations that specialise in these matters.”
Mayor Akiba said, “I am delighted that Churches in the UK have contributed to the call for governments to commit to a world free of nuclear weapons. I hope the Churches in the UK will do everything in their power to mobilize their congregations to let the government know that they are ready to live in a world free of nuclear weapons.” In a letter to the British Methodist Church, he added that “Eliminating nuclear weapons from the world will be one of humanity’s greatest achievements”.
The alliance includes the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the United Reformed Church, the International Affairs Department of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland and the Archbishop of the Church in Wales.
Representatives of the World Council of Churches will be attending the NPT Review Conference, and will present the campaign’s petition to the UK delegation to the conference.
In the sixty-five years since Hiroshima experienced the atomic bombing that made it synonymous with the disastrous effects of nuclear weapons, the city has continued to appeal for their abolition. Through Mayors for Peace, Hiroshima is working with 3,680 other cities to promote the 2020 Vision – a campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons by the year 2020.
29 April 2010
Christians urged to vote on 6 May
Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church leaders have united to urge all Christians to vote on 6 May.
The leaders of the three Churches have encouraged Christians to read the parties’ manifestos, question their local candidates on key policies, and vote on the issues which matter to them.
The Revd Roberta Rominger, General Secretary of the United Reformed Church says: “As Christians we’re committed to principles of justice, peace and equality for all, regardless of race, gender or background. The General Election on 6 May gives all who are registered and ready to vote an importance and influence that we only enjoy every four or five years. We urge you to use your vote responsibly. Think mindfully about the issues that are important to you, take time to consider and discover which parties will best provide solutions you’re comfortable with, and vote accordingly.”
The Revd David Gamble, President of the Methodist Church in Britain, stresses the importance of the vote, saying: “The Churches’ agenda is to promote justice, equality and freedom for all. By staying away from the polling booth we let people with an agenda of fear and discrimination elect our representatives. We must never forget it was only a few generations ago that women were not permitted to vote in this country, and many Christians overseas live in countries without regular free and fair elections. We do a disservice to those who fought for the vote if we don’t use this opportunity to make our voices heard.”
The Revd Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union, adds: “The Faith in Politics booklet has enabled people to explore key campaign issues. From support for those seeking sanctuary to creating a more equitable tax system, we have challenged our members to tackle policy not personalities. In the days leading up to polling day I would encourage all Christians to pray and reflect on what we want the next local and national governments to achieve, and to vote to make it happen on 6 May.”
19 April 2010
A chance to make your voice heard on climate change
British Methodists are being offered the opportunity to make their views heard on climate change, as part of a new Church-wide consultation.
The consultation concerns the draft Methodist Conference Statement on climate change, entitled ‘Hope in God’s Future’ and is now live online at www.methodist.org.uk/higf.
Once adopted, a Methodist Conference Statement is the official view of the Church on a particular matter. It is also referred to by key Church committees, such as the Faith and Order Committee, when deciding on related areas of doctrine.
“Climate change is an issue that affects all of us and is increasingly becoming a concern for many people around the world,” said David Webster, Internet Communications Coordinator, who is leading the consultation process. “We hope as many Methodists as possible put forward their opinions, as we need a Conference Statement that reflects as much as possible the view of the entire Church on this important issue.”
The results will determine recommendations to the Methodist Conference in 2011 on what shape the Statement should take, and is open to all Methodist church members and regular attendees.
For those without Internet access, the consultation is also available in print form. Copies can be obtained from the Help Desk at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR or by calling 020 7486 5502.
8 April 2010
Churches celebrate victory over the vultures
Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Church leaders are celebrating after the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act was passed in the final hours of the current Parliament sitting.
Vulture funds allow private companies to purchase debt from creditor companies and countries for knock-down prices. As the debtor countries have long defaulted on these loans, the companies then use UK and international courts to sue for the full debt, plus costs and interest, which means substantial profit for the company.
The Act will prevent private companies that buy up unpayable debts from taking the poorest nations to court in the UK to enforce payment and thereby forcing developing countries into even greater poverty.
Dr Richard Vautrey, Vice President of the Methodist Conference, welcomed the passing of the Act. “This bill clips the wings of the vultures who prey on vulnerable nations and who drive them deeper into debt and poverty,” he said. “We are pleased that our politicians have woken up to the injustice of private companies using UK courts to make a profit out of the poorest people in our world.”
Donegal International, for example, bought $15 million of Zambia’s debt for $3.3 million, and then demanded $55 million in the UK courts, before eventually being awarded $15.5 million. Zambian presidential advisor, Kalunga- Banda, pointed out that paying Donegal meant “the treatment, the Medicare, the medicines that would have been available to in excess of 100,000 people in the country will not be available.”
Revd Jonathan Edwards, President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, saw this as another key moment in the drive to deliver a world free of poverty, saying, “So many Christians and people of goodwill worked hard through Jubilee 2000 and MakePovertyHistory to ensure that politicians took action on debt relief. But this action was undermined by the action of vulture funds in our own courts. This act will bring an end to vulture culture and stands as testament to our belief that no one deserves to live in absolute poverty.”
However, the Churches warned that a “sunset clause” contained in the Act could lead to the legislation lapsing after a year unless it is renewed by Parliament. Revd John Marsh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, challenged politicians to use this opportunity wisely. “The debt relief granted to Haiti after the recent earthquake shows that debt remains a major challenge to countries that struggle to lift their populations out of poverty,” he said. “We’ll keep watching and campaigning to ensure the ‘sunset clause’ is used to appraise the policy, not as a back-door method to scupper a bill that offers real hope to nations trapped in cycles of debt.”
24 March 2010
Ban the bomblet - Churches celebrate the Cluster Munitions Act
Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Church leaders have welcomed the passing of the Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act today in parliament.
The Act ensures that the UK military cannot use cluster munitions, nor can UK military establishments house cluster bombs for other nations. The Churches have been campaigning for this change for the last two years and were pleased to note the all-party support for the Act arising from strong public support for banning these weapons.
"Five years ago this issue was nowhere on the international political scene," said Revd Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union. "We added our voice to the growing call to ban these weapons because our faith reminds us of the importance of every life. This Act enables the UK to ratify the international treaty banning cluster munitions - something that has been called for by thousands of people around the world."
Cluster munitions contain many bomblets, small objects typically the size of a drinks can, which explode spreading shredded metal around the surrounding area. Sometimes bomblets fail to explode, meaning unexploded bombs are left at the scene of conflict.
Revd John Marsh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, added: "These weapons are indiscriminate, harming civilians and soldiers alike, and can lay dormant, only to explode years later. It is vital that when a war ends, it truly ends. Unexploded bombs must never maim children after armies have stopped fighting. "
Cluster munitions have been widely used in conflicts around the globe, but on 1 August this year, an international treaty will come into effect, banning the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions, and requiring countries to assist survivors and affected communities.
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said: "The moral significance of this bill cannot be overstated. It builds upon widespread recognition of key ethical principles that are enshrined in international humanitarian law. When ensuring our own security we must recognise the importance of adhering to these principles."
12 March 2010
Churches question whether BNP should be permitted to stand in elections
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church in Britain are questioning whether the BNP should be allowed to stand as a party in the General Election.
This follows a ruling that the BNP has failed to comply with a court instruction to change its membership criteria. Under the terms of the Race Relations Act, the BNP has been forced to change its whites-only membership policy, but the Equality and Human Rights Commission has argued that, despite this change, the constitution remains indirectly racist.
"If people want to make our laws, first of all they must comply with them. We would therefore question whether the BNP should be allowed to stand as a party in the General Election," said Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and Unity for the Baptist Union of Great Britain. "Despite the changes to their membership criteria, the court has ruled that the BNP's constitution remains discriminatory."
"As Christians, we have a duty to challenge the rhetoric of hatred championed by extremist parties such as the BNP," continued Rachel Lampard, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church. "Every human being is created in the image of God and every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their nationality."
In addition to the discriminatory membership criteria, the Churches highlight three particular areas of concern with the BNP's policies;
- the abolition of anti-discrimination laws
- a halt on all new immigration, together with repatriation policies and plans to review all recent grants of residency or citizenship
- cutting all foreign aid.
"We celebrate the fact that Britain is a multicultural society and that British aid can change and improve life for people around the world, such as those affected by the earthquake in Haiti," said Simon Loveitt, Public Issues Spokesperson for the United Reformed Church.
5 March 2010
Only a decade to bring nuclear weapons under control, says PM's advisor on nuclear proliferation
Baroness Shirley Williams is warning that the proliferation of nuclear weapons is one of the greatest threats to the survival of humankind.
The Prime Minister's advisor on nuclear proliferation made the statement just days after the White House indicated plans for 'dramatic reductions' in the nuclear arsenal of the United States of America. Baroness Williams was endorsing a campaign by an alliance of nine UK Churches, which calls on the British Government to make a commitment to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, building a safer future for all.
The Churches' campaign, entitled Now is the Time, joins the World Council of Churches and others in pressing for governments to put all bomb-grade material under international control and commit to making the use and possession of nuclear weapons illegal through a new Nuclear Weapons Convention. They are asking people to sign an online petition (at www.endnuclearweapons.org.uk ) expressing support for these aims.
Baroness Williams said: "The proliferation of nuclear weapons and climate change are the greatest threats to the survival of humankind. We have only a few years, at most a decade or so, to control and eventually abolish nuclear weapons. The support of concerned citizens in the UK and elsewhere is vital. The Churches have already played a crucial part in breaking the bonds of debt on poor countries and their leadership on this issue is equally important and urgently needed."
The alliance includes the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the United Reformed Church, the International Affairs Department of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland and the Archbishop of the Church in Wales. The Churches are voicing these concerns in advance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference this May, which they believe will be crucial for international disarmament.
The Rt Revd Dr Tom Butler Lord Bishop of Southwark, said: "We cannot tackle the threat of nuclear terrorism by simply rehearsing old doctrines of defence. The simple fact is that more nuclear weapons do not make for a safer world. We must instead turn to the universal adoption of common rules and standards, enforced by international treaties. It is crucial that all nuclear armed states now demonstrate a willingness to redefine their concepts of security."
"Nuclear weapons instil fear. They are divisive and counter-productive to a sustainable peace between nations," added Steve Hucklesby, Policy Advisor for the Joint Public Issues Team. "The recent commitment by the United States and Russia to reduce their missiles and warheads has injected new life into non-proliferation and disarmament negotiations. We must grasp this opportunity and commit our governments to the road to zero nuclear weapons."
To find out more about the campaign, visit www.endnuclearweapons.org.uk.
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