Suffrage and the Church

I haven't been a priest for an awfully long time, and I have only been an incumbent for a very short time - but in the years I have existed within parish structures, I have been convinced of the cause of the gentle degradation of that noble body - the parochial church council.

I wrote a while ago about how, here, we will do things a little differently when the next session of the PCC begins. That was not all I believed needed adjustment for the Council to be effective in its work. The other factor, I believe, surrounds the right that the members of the electoral roll possess but rarely ever have a real chance to use - their vote. 

I am not talking of the pack animal arm-in-air type voting. I am referring to a meaningful election where everyone gets a chance to make a difference. The degradation of the valency of the parish council surrounds the following process:

• The PCC is overworked with the minutiae of parish life
• It becomes an unattractive proposition 
• Insufficient people stand for the vacancies at the next session
• To make up numbers arms are twisted
• Just enough people stand for election for the vacancies to be filled
• They get elected en bloc and very much en passant
• No-one remembered who was on the PCC if you ask them after the fact
• The PCC becomes detached from parish life
• ...and a cycle of insufficient nominations for vacancies perpetuates
• Start at the top

My feeling is that an election where, unfortunately, people may lose and not be elected is vital to the health of a PCC and in many ways to the parish. The reasons for this are simple - the people who have the vote are then caused to use it, and become an active part of the process rather than a passive member of the crowd. They get to exercise their responsibilities under that suffrage too. We had an election yesterday here, and yes, people were not elected. I bet that those who were at the meeting will be able to name the new PCC though - and that is a start in itself. 

When I was young (in my teens), the PCC of which I was a member was routinely formed in a contested election. It was, perhaps not by chance, a time of great growth in that parish. Oddly, growth seemed to diminish as the PCC seemed to stop being elected. This may be chance, but there is also a chance that it wasn't. Perhaps winning in an election was an attractive prize (it certainly felt good as a 17 year old), and maybe that sense of satisfaction was enough to get the parish 'heart' pumping - but whatever it was, it seemed to make a very considerable difference. 

AV and Being Bothered

We the British people, the lovely United Kingdomites, the extended family of none other than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will be called to make a choice today.

AV it or Not AV it, mate!

For those of you in the further flung places of our wonderful world, we have a choice about our voting system. Currently we elect our politicians, like horses, in a 'First past the post' system where the chap or chappess with the greater number of Xs wins. The Alternative Vote is the choice that is on offer in this referendum, and in simple terms, is a process by which election candidates are ordered by preference. The winning condition is to receive more than 50% of the votes cast. Failure to achieve that means that the poor poppet who secured the least number of votes have the alternative choices on their ballot papers considered and re-distributed. In other words, if your No. 1 doesn't win, your No. 2 etc may gain from your vote. To me it is simple, though many are confusticated by the whole thing. 

Me, I am for the Alternative Vote. It favours a three-party system whereas the 'first donkey past the post' favours a two-party system. AV also means that, in the end, the winner of a given election has secured the greatest volume of support. The other system allows a government to be formed that may well not have the physical majority of the total of votes cast. The answer seems simple to me. It also means that my vote matters, unlike now when voting for anyone other that Tory in this area is a waste of pencil-lead. 

But my views are not why I have written this post. There is a societal cancer that lingers in the bones of our great nation. Apathy. In recent elections, the turn-out has been poor. People just don't seem to want to engage with the process. I am not sure if this apathy is born of laziness, not caring, or having too many other burdens already, but the problem is right there. AV or No AV - it is almost moot-point when the V is a minority sport. To gain half of the votes cast when only 36% of voters voted means that you can only claim 18% of popular support, and frankly, it makes little difference how we get there. However, a viable government 18% does not make, in my modest opinion.

As a Christian, I believe I have a duty to vote in this and all elections that effect me and my area. My reason for this is that the least in our society are affected by the outcome (and perhaps it is true to say that all of us are, and my ministry is to all people, not just the least by whatever measure we are working with). If I have a care for a just society I have to play my part in its formation and governance. If I have a love for neighbour, what affects my neighbour must be important to me too. Say 'Fair Trade', and you will bring every living-breathing Christians out in the goose-bumps of justice-for-all. Say 'referendum' and I fear that you will struggle to bring many out of the house. 

Ok, now what ... ?

Great Britain changed mere minutes ago. I have my views and they are not concealed. 

This has been a strange few weeks in Britain. We have had a General Election that has seemed to pass over substance and focus on photogenic qualities. The world is Twittering at a pace, and Blogs drip with this stuff. We are potentially moving away from the most terrible financial climate in generations and it seems to me, at least, that the nation has now had its scalp, its pound of flesh. 

Gordon Brown was never going to win a General Election, not in the third millenium. Gruff elder-statesmen just don't excite the world like they used to, but then again, neither does the Church. Vince Cable wouldn't have won the election or Ken Clark - not appealing to the eye, not slick enough. We have lost a fine stateman today and I dread to think how life for Britain would be this night had we not had Gordon Brown at the helm as Chancellor and then as Prime Minister in this recession. 

Still, all change at Westminster. 

I am fearful, and I am uncertain. I was two years old when we last had a coalition and my wife wasn't even born. Mssrs Clegg and Cameron (the two C's of the ConDem Nation) were little lads themselves. None of us know what to expect now. 

My fear aside, my politics aside, I now have to stand up and be a Christian first. I am called, as are all Christians, to 'embrace change with enthusiasm'. Give me a day or two. In an election where we had losers but no winners, we have to watch and wait, and pray. In the middle of this, I have to believe that God is present. 

If I can believe that, I don't have to be afraid.

Legalised hanging ... it could have been worse

It is almost a full day since the polls closed, and those commentators started their tireless work of unpicking every unfolding event. Channel 4 offered a good sanctuary from the machinations of the other channels, all of whom seemed hell-bent on over-kneading the dough, or so it seemed.

And so we have a Hung Parliament.

In the wake of said election, I went to Blenheim Palace (see pic) with my family and had a wonderful day, in draughty cool weather - with the people who I love most in the world. We went on the train, we enjoyed the Palace itself, we avoided the maze and flew through the Butterfly House (Rebekah had a hissy-fit when a gargantuan flutterby landed on her - and the glass in the roof was n'er well shattered with the screams). It has been a wonderful day, and I count my blessings for every moment of it. This all said, in the back of my mind has been the state of the political landscape.

My political prejudices are not shrouded in this Blog, and the prospect of a Tory outright majority filled me with abject dread - partly through my upbringing by a socialist dad, and also because silver-spoons and bums are not in proximity where I come from. However, a Labour government is not possible now, Nick Clegg (the 'impressionist resistant' politician - Channel 4) will probably buddy up with Cam the Man (well they look alike, so why not) - and we will have a hybrid government where the smaller parties will have a greater voice. Interesting times, and I am left hoping some hopes for the future.

Before you wonder why a rumination on politics is being spliced with news of my day - it is the latter that has framed my hopes for the political future:

It seems to me that if we use the family as the plimsol line of what is right and wrong, we won't go far wrong. I doubt any politicians of note will read this, but here goes ...

1. I want my children to be safe; safe from physical harm and safe from the insidious harm generated by hatred manifest in the next cool 'cause'.

2. I want to be a dad that doesn't have to work so hard that I can't see my children before they go to bed, or miss them before they rise the next day. I want some time in every month that I can spend with my family, and the reasonable ability to manage my work-life balance to that end. I don't want a Britain where quality of employment is measured by overtime hours worked for free.

3. When my wife or children need to recieve care, I want them to recieve it in a reasonable timescale.

4. I want my daughters to live in a Britain where the truth is paramount, and where questions are not answered in euphemism and semantic prestidigitation.

5. I want my daughters to grow up in a Britain where rights are not at the expense of responsibilities. (If polling stations close at 10pm, don't pitch up at 9.45pm and complain that your rights have been infringed when you could have used any of the othr 14 hours to vote - by the way)

6. I want my kids to live in a Britain where the level of bank-balances are not held in higher regard than personal qualities and human virtue.

7. I am want my family to exist in a country where it is a valued social unit, and where every step to preserve it are taken by the incumbent government.

8. I want my country run by a government who will deploy troops to defend my children against those who would seek to hurt them - once all else has failed.

9. I want a country for my family that rewards honour more than financial aquisition. I want happiness to be the measure of success, not the 'bottom line'.

10. Whatever potential my children have, I want them to be granted the best chance of realising it, in an environment where they are valued as individuals.

I am now quite clear that 'family' is king, and what hurts 'family' hurts the country. This list is not exhaustive because I am also tired like the politicians. Neither is this list constructed to be open to deep scrutiny. In simple terms, and in whatever measure 'family' is for people, I think we are all entitled to have lives where days like I have enjoyed today are the norm, not the snatched exception*.

*life as a priest is altogether more conducive to family life than than in retail, and it is with that remembrance that I write 

The Curate's Egg III

Egg of the Day: Political

So, May has been a little monochrome in terms of posting, so I figured that a return to form was called for. So, back to those things that chuff me right off ...

General Election: It is always good to see the mechanism of democracy working hard and we now watch fearfully on the events of the next day or so. However, it isn't this that is giving me the rub, it is the effects of said mechanism. I have done a few miles in the Pocket Rocket this last week and there is a factor in the election that needs addressing - the Tory fly-posting of our beautiful countryside. Every sodding field between Aylesbury and anywhere else is peppered with the super-sized, morbidly obese, smacks of 'look how much land we own' and 'what we don't own we can pay off', multi-colour Conservative bill-boards. "Vote for Change" they say - I will vote for my beautiful countryside to be cleared of all this Tory litter. They all seem to be bigger than those from the last election - get orf moi larnd, you parsh townies. Moi lettle larms 'ave banged therrr hehdds on yoh-wer beg ole soins. Meh ...

Moto Wi-Fi: It is 'free, every time you visit' - yeah, what else would it be, free every other time you visit?

Drivers who use mobile phones when driving (at speed in particular) - I confess here and now that, when it was legal, I babbled like a brook on my brain-frazzler all the while I was fracturing other traffic laws, specifically those tailored to moderate speed. But like a reformed smoker, I have become an angry bigot in regard to those who talk on their phones when driving. As I tore past people on the M25 today, I passed loads of them who were yapping on their Nokias. It isn't just themselves that they will kill, it is my kids in the back of my family car that will pay the ultimate price. Bastards (not my kids, the phone-ists). If you are that important that you need to sign into the office while you are driving, then you are important enough to deserve a chauffeur - get a chauffeur, don't kill my babies, my beautiful babies.

Theatrical luvvies: Don't even start me off on that one

I ask you ....

Are you ready?

This Curate thinks that it is time to step up to the plate and talk politics. I am a political animal, and can make this assertion for the following reasons:

1. I love my children and the state of the world that they live in is a particular concern

2. I love the people among whom I minister and the state of the world that they live in is a particular concern.

3. I have a highly developed self-preservative sense, and the state of the world that I live in, with my most excellent wife, is a matter of particular concern.

And so we have had three televised debates. If I am honest, I am feeling a little dispondent - but why? Let me summarise their sentiments...

- He is crap and so is his gaggle of n'er do wells. He has messed it up for like ever, man - so I am going to fix it

- He is crap and so is his gaggle of n'er do wells. He hasn't ever run a country so don't listen to him (he did that thing with his bottom lip there, did you see?)

- They are both crap and are talking out of their derrieres - but I might be the casting vote in Parliament, so I am blinkin' marvellous -mwah ha ha ha ha

And so the debate ended with one final round of 'he is crap', 'he is crap' and 'they are crap' and then we move on to Nick Robinson (those glasses are still an enigma to me, by the way) and what do we get?

- Well, he blinked every time he said 'immigrant', so he must be crap

- He stared at the camera without blinking so he must be a robot

- He likes lasagne, so he might win the election

- His quiff was especially lacquered tonight, so we go over to Michael Buerke for comments back at the studio

- He didn't barf on camera, so he might win

What about my children? What about my parishioners? What about me, man? All I know is this - I will not be best pleased if the economy is in the hands of Mr Osborne - poor taste in ties, and he doesn't like jet aircraft (allegedly). Boo.                          and he is a Tory

All you need is love ...

What a funny world we live in ...

It seems to me, as I sit and try to think of something new and fresh for this Sunday's All-Age Service (that is to say, the Sermon ought not to be boring as the piffle I normally barf out on a bi-weekly basis) - it strikes me that we live in a world where love has gone bonkers. Incidentally, the 'text' is "love one another as I love you".

So, we have a General Election looming - The Tories True-Blues love Britain, the Labour Lefties love Britain, and the LibDem Yellahs love Britain too - so what is the sum of love + love + love? Answer : Smear and name-calling.

On Saturday we have the Grand Visit of the English Defence League. They just love England. Greeting them will my brothers and sisters from the Muslim faith who, quite understandably, love their faith and way of life. The party will be hosted by the Anti-Fascists who just love us all to love. In the mix will be some folk who love football, some who have a love for the pugilistic art and others who love music (but hate racism, according to their posters). So, the formula would be 

=sum(love)*(edl + mdl) + (uaf + lmhr)/TVP : answer - 'potential difficulties of an undisclosed nature'.       TVP = Thames Valley Police

So much for love so far. 

The world often blames religion for many of the wars that have scarred human history - but I think I am discovering the hidden fact. It isn't religion at all, its love that people are fighting for. Religion is but one expression of loving in our world, but not by any means the only one. 

I then wonder how "love your neighbour as yourself" might work - perhaps that is the solution to the mismatch error of love. But lest we forget, dear reader, we overfeed ourselves, over-work ourselves, neglect our spiritual needs, we polute our bodies with alcohol, caffiene or worse. If we loved a neighbour like that, we'd be arrested for an abuse or two I think. 

Maybe my sermon should be focussing on the great benefits to the world of utter indifference - that way none of us would give a toss about anyone else, and drift off to live is splendid isolation. Lovely jubbly, n'er a care anywhere! The EDL wouldn't pay us a visit because they wouldn't care enough to hop on thr train. The General Election would be won by brown envelope of cash and not by polsters and slanging matches. 

Why, though, does that sound worse? I don't know what the answer is, and in truth no-one does I think. I'd sooner love and take the risk that other people will love too. I think that a life without love would be a grey world without colour, and I don't want to live in a world like that. Disregarding those who attack and hurt others behind a facade of false love (and they are lower than a snake's belly), I think I can live in  place where people let their own real love get carried away from time to time. I guess that is the thing with love - it is the most potent force in the Universe - it just needs to be handled carefully and properly.