Solutions not Problems

As we enter the last few weeks before the USA election, and with over 20 million people having voted early, I pray we can find God in everyone we meet, everyone we know, and everyone we don't know.

Many years ago Father Trevor Huddleston sat at my parent's table in London at Sunday lunch and shared his frustration loudly at the abuse of white power in South Africa where he had just been kicked out for sharing communion with Africans in Soweto (SophiaTown) at an open-air service.

Just after this, our church was blessed to be served by a young deacon, Desmond Tutu, who is a living example of demonstrating recognizing Jesus in everyone we meet, and who would go on, as Archbishop of Capetown, to lead the post-apartheid process of reconciliation in South Africa.

Over sixty years later, we can gently persuade those with power in America to share with those without power. It will not be easy, but as my late mother often said, "If it was easy, God would not have asked you to do it."

Bishop Deon K. Johnson
Rev. Aaron Rogers
Rev. Loretta Go
Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

When Americans say it can't be done here, I just want to remind them about what they already have from Social Security, pensions, Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran's care, and a variety of associated caring programs, many of which were amplified during the Covid Pandemic. The National Health Service was launched in the UK in 1948, and the government's then minister of health, Nye Bevan, is quoted as saying, "No society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because of a lack of means". It included sick pay, unemployment benefits, pensions and free healthcare for all, irrespective of wealth or background. The "NHS" was funded by a slight increase in taxes, and government income tax was increased 1% for the welfare state expenses. There was an increase in marginal tax rates for wealthy business owners, much like is proposed by the democratic party for the 1% in America today. Maybe America will set a new standard for healthcare for all, as it should.

An unusual place to come across a succinct and strong case against Christian Nationalism, but nevertheless here it is, buried in an article in the UK Church Times. This is an edited extract from “Becoming by Beholding: The power of the imagination in spiritual formation”, by Lanta Davis, published on 20 August in the UK by Baker Academic at £21.99 (Church Times Bookshop £19.79); 978-1-5409-6618-6.

What the early Christians did for us Their habits show the importance of shaping the imagination, says Lanta Davis