A quick flick through the Methodist blogging aggregator this morning shows that in recent days there has been little comment from individual Methodists about events unfolding both in Libya and the broader Arab world.
Quick to condemn Israel the denominational news service has been strangely quiet this last week, limiting its activity to to a very soft story about dinner invitations.
So how should Methodists and other Christians respond to the unfolding crisis in the Arab world?
First, we should at least call for prayer. I am genuinely surprised that no such call has been made. It is indicative of our Methodist world that the only call to prayer on the official Methodist website this morning is one for the people of New Zealand. Absolutely right but the people of Benghazi need our prayers as much as those in Christchurch.
Secondly we should make it clear that we support the development of democracy. This is not always easy. Every country has a different view of what constitutes democracy but the bottom line must always be the rule of law. As Christians we have a particular responsibility to promote democracy. Some cite the ancient Greeks as the originators of democracy. I disagree. The reason we have democracy as a standard feature of western countries is that Protestant sects put into practice, first within their congregations, then within the wider civil society, the basic forms of government outlined in the New Testament.
Western nations did not become democracies overnight. We should be patient and supportive of nations seeking to take the democratic route. We need to offer support as they develop that capacity within their civil societies. It is a dramatic change in mindset especially for institutions such as the judiciary, police and military. As Christians we should be staunch defenders of overseas aid programmes especially those focused on building civil society.
Thirdly, we really must question the rush to sell arms. The sight of a British prime minister rushing round the Middle East with a posse of arms salesmen (knowing the defence industry I'd be surprised if any were women) has been one of the most unappealing features of British public life in the last few weeks. As a country we are very good at making arms. I personally don't have a problem with us having an arms industry. However we should be more discriminating with whom we deal. British armoured personnel carriers are at this moment the transport of choice for Gaddafi's militia. Not a pretty picture.
Fourthly, we need to understand that momentous forces may be gathering. Across Europe we have had four surges of liberal democracy in fifty years: post 1945, during the seventies (Portugal, Spain and Greece) and then the aftermath of 1989. We have seen how difficult the adjustment has been, especially in some of the former Eastern bloc countries. A similar process may be starting in the Arab world. Populist leaders may arise who will want to consolidate their power and prestige. The west's oil supply and Israel may prove to be comparatively cost free causes. How we speak about Israel will be of especial significance. British Methodism in particular should be very wary of becoming further embroiled in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns which are being funded by governments hostile to Israel.
Finally we should encourage trade that goes beyond the supply of oil and tourism. Alongside the civil society infrastructure we should support the new governments developing local industries. Reports that large numbers of Egyptian, Tunisian and Libyan graduates are unemployed remind us that oil and tourism revenues are often pocketed by the very rich to be spent on places such as the London property market.
In future negotiations European and US based oil companies should be obliged to insist that part of those revenues are used to develop an industrial and commercial infrastructure. This will benefit all the countries around the Mediterranean basin.Prosperous economies along the north African coast will open up opportunities for trade and may reduce and possibly reverse the migratory pressures from south to north.
Individual Methodists may also question carefully how we spend our tourist pounds. Sometimes tourism can enrich an economy and all the people dependent on it, at other times it can impoverish.
These are just some initial thoughts. I do hope that the Methodist church does formally issue a call for prayer.
Quick to condemn Israel the denominational news service has been strangely quiet this last week, limiting its activity to to a very soft story about dinner invitations.
So how should Methodists and other Christians respond to the unfolding crisis in the Arab world?
First, we should at least call for prayer. I am genuinely surprised that no such call has been made. It is indicative of our Methodist world that the only call to prayer on the official Methodist website this morning is one for the people of New Zealand. Absolutely right but the people of Benghazi need our prayers as much as those in Christchurch.
Secondly we should make it clear that we support the development of democracy. This is not always easy. Every country has a different view of what constitutes democracy but the bottom line must always be the rule of law. As Christians we have a particular responsibility to promote democracy. Some cite the ancient Greeks as the originators of democracy. I disagree. The reason we have democracy as a standard feature of western countries is that Protestant sects put into practice, first within their congregations, then within the wider civil society, the basic forms of government outlined in the New Testament.
Western nations did not become democracies overnight. We should be patient and supportive of nations seeking to take the democratic route. We need to offer support as they develop that capacity within their civil societies. It is a dramatic change in mindset especially for institutions such as the judiciary, police and military. As Christians we should be staunch defenders of overseas aid programmes especially those focused on building civil society.
Thirdly, we really must question the rush to sell arms. The sight of a British prime minister rushing round the Middle East with a posse of arms salesmen (knowing the defence industry I'd be surprised if any were women) has been one of the most unappealing features of British public life in the last few weeks. As a country we are very good at making arms. I personally don't have a problem with us having an arms industry. However we should be more discriminating with whom we deal. British armoured personnel carriers are at this moment the transport of choice for Gaddafi's militia. Not a pretty picture.
Fourthly, we need to understand that momentous forces may be gathering. Across Europe we have had four surges of liberal democracy in fifty years: post 1945, during the seventies (Portugal, Spain and Greece) and then the aftermath of 1989. We have seen how difficult the adjustment has been, especially in some of the former Eastern bloc countries. A similar process may be starting in the Arab world. Populist leaders may arise who will want to consolidate their power and prestige. The west's oil supply and Israel may prove to be comparatively cost free causes. How we speak about Israel will be of especial significance. British Methodism in particular should be very wary of becoming further embroiled in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns which are being funded by governments hostile to Israel.
Finally we should encourage trade that goes beyond the supply of oil and tourism. Alongside the civil society infrastructure we should support the new governments developing local industries. Reports that large numbers of Egyptian, Tunisian and Libyan graduates are unemployed remind us that oil and tourism revenues are often pocketed by the very rich to be spent on places such as the London property market.
In future negotiations European and US based oil companies should be obliged to insist that part of those revenues are used to develop an industrial and commercial infrastructure. This will benefit all the countries around the Mediterranean basin.Prosperous economies along the north African coast will open up opportunities for trade and may reduce and possibly reverse the migratory pressures from south to north.
Individual Methodists may also question carefully how we spend our tourist pounds. Sometimes tourism can enrich an economy and all the people dependent on it, at other times it can impoverish.
These are just some initial thoughts. I do hope that the Methodist church does formally issue a call for prayer.
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