Strike Out Unemployment Start With Your Congregation
Regardless of your political affiliation, its an interesting St Andrew's Day today. As I write thousands of workers from the Public Sector in Scotland and the UK are out on strike because they feel the new proposals surrounding their revised pension scheme is unfair. Another 2 million people can't strike because they've no job. This is the world in which the church is called to minister. The question is what would be an adequate response?
The fact that people have the freedom and the right to withhold their labour is an important aspect of our British democracy. Facing up to the realities of what might be in the future is never easy. I think what is galvanizing people to take to the streets and protest is the perceived unfairness surrounding bonuses in the corporate world. The fact that a small number of decision makers in the financial sector world-wide,seem to be able to make poor decisions and still be highly rewarded, would appear to most people unjust. Changing the order of the world economic system will be a long term strategy and no doubt we all have a part to play in bringing about such changes. If the current strike highlights these injustices it may well be justified, but in the short term, will it simply mean less pay in pay-packets next month?
I've been thinking today about the people who can't go on strike because they don't have a job. What has been exercising my mind is the plight of many young people who at present are disheartened and disappointed because they have no job. They can't even think about a pension. I also know of many people who are working and can't afford to pay into a pension. There are just so many tensions that come to the surface when one group highlights their issues over against another. It's not to say they shouldn't but it arouses others to speak of their situation. Its interesting to see how sections of the media are seeking to highlight the differences between those who work in the Corporate Sector and those who work in the Public Sector.
So I guess I've been thinking what can we in the church nationwide can do to support and encourage the thousands of young people who are unemployed? According to the statistics of the Scottish Office there are 215,000 people unemployed in Scotland and over 1 million in the UK. A large number of those unemployed fall into the 16-24 age group. I'm sure the numbers in this age group would be higher, but they are camoflaged by the fact that a huge number attend college for a few hours every week and are no longer on the unemployed register. There is surely something that we in the church can do to help and support young people who live in our parishes and are facing the prospect of long term unemployment? Many of our churches could become hubs out of which work teams engage in parishes and communities.
I'm thinking could we encourage congregations across the land to adopt a young person and give them a job to do around the church and pay them at least the minimum hourly rate? What would happen if an older member of the congregation was given the role of mentoring such a young person? You might be amazed at the number of young people who would take up the offer.
I'd be interested to hear what some of you think? So what would be the list of jobs you'd get a young person between 16-24 to do for your congregation?
Its interesting to note that Andrew the disciple was the one who brought a young boy to Jesus. The boy who wanted to offer the Lord his loaves and fishes and look what happened. I'm convinced there are still young people who want to bring their gifts to the service of the church. Let's work out how to use them use them! remember its St Andrew's Day and miracles can happen.
Posted By: Helmut On: 11 Dec 2011 At: 10:46am
Something along those lines is done in Germany, the actual layout varying from authority to authority.
And yes indeed, the red tape coming along with this is awesome and killing off quite a few valuable ideas.