Faithfully yours - Taking the lead—getting involved
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- Published on Monday, August 13, 2018
By Neil Strohschein
Neepawa Banner & Press
The recent conflict between members of the United Methodist Church and US Attorney General Jeff Sessions will probably bring about another chapter in what has been an on-going debate.
At issue is the role of organized religion in a modern society. Is there a place for it; and what influence (if any) should organized religion have when it comes to setting public policy?
In Canada, the political activities of religious denominations, large churches and faith-based charities are strictly regulated. Partisan political activities are not permitted. But we can encourage political activity in other ways that are quite legitimate—and we do.
For example, we encourage people to vote in federal, provincial and local elections. Identify issues that concern you, raise them in public meetings with candidates, listen to their answers and vote for the one whose views are closest to your own. Vote as you please; but please vote.
Then, we seek to be good citizens of the country in which we live. We try to set a good example by obeying the laws of the land, paying our taxes and living in peace with our neighbors.
We can also become active in the campaign for environmental, economic and social justice. But rather than a campaign of words, we can lead a campaign of works. We can stop talking about the kind of society we want to build and start building it—beginning in our neighborhoods and in the communities where we live.
I firmly believe that the people best qualified to solve local problems are the people who live in the communities directly affected by those problems. I never cease to be amazed at politicians who spend massive amounts of money and devote huge amounts of time to develop programs to deal with pressing problems—while all around them, small groups of people are taking the lead, getting involved and effectively dealing with the problem in their home towns.
Case in point—last year some rather unflattering graffiti showed up at several locations around Neepawa. The words were aimed at a group of people who are new to this community and who, since their arrival have made a very positive contribution to the life and health of our town and the surrounding area. Those who painted these racial slurs had no idea who they were dealing with. The people of Neepawa came together in a way and with a strength that no one could have imagined and let everyone know that such actions will not be tolerated in our community.
One event proved to be a rallying point around which we gathered. Four community members organized and hosted a community pot luck and invited the whole town to attend. Not everyone did, but those who were there had a great time forming new relationships and in many cases, lasting friendships with people they otherwise might never have gotten to know.
Local initiatives like these might not solve serious problems on a national scale. But they can do great things for local communities. And really, that’s all that matters. You and I don’t live in all of Canada. We live here. The problems that concern us exist here. The ideas that can help solve them are tucked away in the minds of people we are proud to call neighbors and friends.
Politicians and religious leaders should be the first to encourage those who have good ideas by giving them opportunities to put them into action. Our communities and our churches will be much better off as a result.
