Mission in the Big Society

As Jesus was leaving Jericho heading for Jerusalem he heard a man cry out. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar. The crowd wanted him to shut up but Jesus stopped and listened. He must have known what Bartimaeus wanted but still asked him. At the end of this story Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, a new disciple.
The Coalition Government has introduced a Decentralisation and Localisation Bill that gives power back to local communities, helping them to make local decisions and hold their councillors to account. This bill is at the heart of the ‘Big Society’ strategy. At one level this should make it easier for people to be heard. But even small local communities can be deaf to some people or even deliberately silence them. Who is going to listen out for the ‘Bartimaeuses' in our communities?
People can become voiceless in a whole range of ways. There are unpopular groups; they could be asylum seekers, travellers, or ex-offenders. There are people who are considered to be a nuisance; perhaps young people who want to play football or gather in shopping centres. And there are people who may simply find it difficult to speak up and be heard; children, old people or people with disabilities.
It has always been important for the church to stand alongside those who find themselves excluded from the good things of life. But in the ‘Big Society’ the role of local churches will be even more important.
Mission Action Plans start with listening.  Listening is not something we do before mission; it is part of mission; we listen lovingly, carefully and prayerfully in the name of Christ. The transformation for Bartimaeus started as Jesus stopped and listened.
There is a wide range of materials to help us to stop and listen as local churches including MAP resources on the diocesan website and the Faith in Action manual (especially chapter 2).  Most parishes already have one or more copies but if you need more, there are copies available at Derby Church House or by download