A national programme to help churches drive social change and seek justice has been launched.
The Just Church programme aims to uphold and enhance the work of churches, and help them explore the best next steps on their journey.
It was launched by Church Action on Poverty last week, with a service at Luther King House theological college in Manchester.
Liam Purcell, chief executive of the charity, says: “Churches know the Biblical call to pursue justice, but making that an ongoing part of church life isn’t easy.
“During our Church on the Margins work a few years ago, we met churches doing incredible work, but also met churches who earnestly wanted to do more yet were stretched or unsure where to start. We’ve set up the Just Church programme as a direct response.
“Churches, working well, are powerful catalysts of change. This programme equips churches to celebrate what they’re doing, while exploring possible next steps. Every church, whether just starting out or already excelling, can keep looking onwards. Like so much of what we do at Church Action on Poverty, this is about helping churches to meet the fourth mark of mission: to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.”
Speakers at the service included Revd Kate Gray, a URC minister in Wythenshawe, and one of the first church leaders to sign up. She said: “It was really great to hear about Just Church and the process of how it came about, because it is about relationships. It doesn’t feel like an additional burden or like work, but it has given us a frame and a structure.”
Churches can find out more at just-church.org.uk