Bishop reflects on a busy year and looks forward to 2018

WHAT an extraordinary year it has been! Who would have imagined, just 12 months ago, that the United States of America, arguably the most powerful nation on earth, would be watching Twitter for new policy statements; or that our own vulnerable government would be up to its eyeballs in Brexit?

As North Korea continues to develop its nuclear capability and ISIS, though on the run, terrorises ordinary people in the Near East, it is hard not to be concerned about the state – and future – of the world in which we live.

Perhaps its peace is no more fragile than it has ever been, and at least we are currently spared the sort of world-wide conflict we commemorate each November on Remembrance Day.

But in political terms, the globe seems rather bereft of international statesmen (or women), and with the current ascendency of populism over true democracy there are times when most of us must wonder quite where we’re going – or why.

I suppose this political ferment came to a head for me with the resignation of our local MP, Tim Farron, as leader of the Liberal Democrats. He subsequently delivered an excellent lecture to the think-tank ‘Theos’ entitled ‘Liberalism is eating itself’.

In it he spoke of the way in which ‘today social media fuels group think, pack mentality and depressing conformity’; and he pointed to a society leaping to take offence, hooked on materialism, and addicted to self-esteem.

But far from being a litany of woes, the lecture was full of hope. He explained how liberalism (and indeed democracy) is underpinned by the Christianity from which it sprang. In fact, by discarding Christianity we ‘kick away the foundations of liberalism and democracy, and so we cannot then be surprised when what we call liberalism stops being liberal’.

As he rightly observed, when it comes to ‘world-views’ there is absolutely no such thing as ‘neutrality’. All our decisions and actions are determined by our assumptions and pre-suppositions about who we are and why we’re here.

How very refreshing, I thought, to hear a politician challenging some of the sacred cows of a secularist creed – and arguing for the right to do so in what I like to suppose is still a forum for free speech.

Nor was the picture in Cumbria all doom and gloom by any means. The year was, as always, punctuated and illuminated by countless acts of generosity and kindness.

Huge efforts have been made to welcome Syrian refugees to the county, small in number though they are.

Food banks have helped hundreds of struggling families – though we have to ask why they continue to be necessary.

Volunteers and charities have maintained their wonderful work in so many areas of life – including care for the elderly and those with dementia; support for ex-offenders; and an amazing commitment to the well-being and development of children and young people.

In my travels around Cumbria I never cease to be heartened – and humbled – by the extraordinary service that is offered by so many in such unassuming ways; not least through the Cumbria Community Foundation, which has provided such invaluable assistance to the victims of Storm Desmond (and subsequent flooding).

On which, it is worth remembering that two years on, 125 flooded homes still lie empty – each one representing enormous heartache and worry. However, we have reason to be grateful for living where we do – not only because of its beauty, but also because of the resilience and warm-heartedness of its inhabitants.

So what does the coming year look like? I have the privilege of speaking for the Church of England on issues of health and social care in the House of Lords – and last year I sat on a Select Committee which produced a report on the future sustainability of the NHS.

Unfortunately, it was published just before the General Election was called, which meant that it disappeared into a political black hole. I hope that early in the New Year we may be able to debate its findings – and see some progress on long-term planning and the integration of health and social care in a rapidly ageing society (as part of which I have to declare an interest!)

Locally I also hope that we will be able to tackle some of the problems of obesity, inequality and low social mobility which are especially prevalent on the West Coast; and see a future for Sellafield, as well as small businesses across the county.

Several of our schools face an uncertain future due to declining numbers of pupils and questions over academisation – and we are all aware of the huge financial and strategic pressures on our county and district councils.

Then there is the church, which continues to play a significant role in communities large and small across Cumbria. We are currently in the process of forming ecumenical ‘Mission Communities’, and preparing for something called ‘Moving Mountains’, which is all part of our ‘God for All’ strategy – aimed at reaching out to everyone with God’s love.

Like other professions we often struggle to recruit people to work in Cumbria – which to those of us who are already here seems quite extraordinary! One of the people we will need to recruit is a new Bishop of Penrith in place of Bishop Robert, who retires at Easter and will be very greatly missed.

So there is much to look forward to in the coming year and I do hope that it will be a very happy one for you.

Happy New Year!