Called to Change: Justice and Community in Christian Living Called to Change: Justice and Community in Christian Living

Over the last six months our whole society has changed. The global pandemic has shown how much we human beings depend upon each other for our wellbeing.

When lockdown isolated us physically, we saw in stark ways how closely we are joined. We need each other for the basics of life (food, healthcare, shelter) and we also have profound emotional needs – for touch, presence and the blessings of community.

This autumn’s programme explores our mutual dependence through a Christian frame, as a community, the Body of Christ, called to care for and about the world.

We start by looking at our joining as one Body through the Eucharist, and the challenges of our changed context upon long-established worship habits.

But we go on to explore other challenges to loving human community: the urgency of climate change, the ugly presence of racism, the cruelties on our doorstep of modern slavery and exploitative work.

Come and join us by Zoom on Thursday evenings (and one Sunday morning!) in October. Booking is free. For the Zoom link, please e-mail Emma Jones, Mission and Learning Assistant: [email protected]

Although each session is a stand-alone event, there are also other opportunities to explore if you want to go deeper.

And join us too for the livestreamed Eucharist on Modern Slavery Day, Sunday 18 October at 10.30am in Ely Cathedral, where Bishop Alastair Redfern, Chair of the Church of England’s anti-slavery group The Clewer Initiative, will be preaching. Booking and livestream details on page 6.

2 Love, Risk and Exclusion: Social Distance and the Eucharist

Thursday 1 October, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

In conversation:

Mrs Sarah Armstrong Member of Christchurch, a lay-led church plant in Ely.

The Revd Dr Jenny Gage Minister for Social Justice at Ely Cathedral.

The Revd Devin McLachlan Associate Vicar at Great St Mary’s in Cambridge and the Bishop’s adviser on Interfaith Affairs.

The conversation is facilitated by Canon Jessica Martin.

All Zoom participants will have an opportunity to join in the discussion in the second half of the session.

Going Deeper:

Canon Martin would welcome individual conversations with any interested participant for a piece of research on the Eucharist in a time of social distancing.

E-mail: [email protected]

3 Hope in a Hopeless World: Equipping Churches in the Face of the Climate Emergency

Thursday 8 October, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Biblical, theological and practical reflections on climate emergency and the opportunities for local churches to act.

Speakers are Dr Darrell Hannah, of Operation Noah, on the Biblical case for creation care, and the Revd Joyce Addison, of the Maidstone Deanery Environment Group, on how the local church can be a catalyst for change.

Following their presentations, there will be an opportunity for discussion for all Zoom participants.

Dr Hannah has been Chair of Operation Noah, a Christian charity working to help the Church respond to climate change, since 2014, and is Rector of All Saints, Ascot.

Revd Addison is Priest-in-Charge of St Martin’s Church, Maidstone, the founder of the Maidstone Deanery Environment Group and a member of the Diocese of Canterbury Environment Forum. She is passionate about helping local churches to engage with and respond to the current environmental crisis and climate change as part of their Christian calling.

Going Deeper:

In February 2020, General Synod voted for the Church of England to strive to be carbon neutral by 2030. Ely Diocese has already started working on this and further information will be available soon.

Ely Cathedral Environment Group - RENEW Set up by concerned members of the congregation and clergy, RENEW has been working towards the A Rocha Eco Church award for the Cathedral. The Cathedral was awarded the Silver Award earlier this year and we are now working towards achieving the Gold Award, and to being carbon neutral by 2030, in line with the General Synod’s resolution.

We are always pleased to hear from anyone who would like to know more, or who would like to get involved! For further information, please visit: www.elycathedral.org/social-justice/social-justice-and-the-environment; or e-mail us at: [email protected] 64 #JTA Journeying Together Towards Antiracism

Thursday 15 October, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Would you like to better understand things like White privilege and take positive, practical action towards antiracism?

Join us for an interactive dialogue between Revd Nikki Mann and Zarine Jacob on themes of Race, Equity and Belonging.

Please e-mail any questions to: [email protected] in advance.

Nikki is Rector of the Raddesley Group of Parishes and Ely Diocese’s BAME Adviser. She is a BAME mentor and vocations adviser and champion.

Zarine is a global leadership coach whose special interests are culture, belonging and inclusiveness.

Going Deeper:

Tuesday 15, 22 & 29 September, 7pm - 8.30pm We are delighted to offer a free, informal Zoom course on themes of Race, Equity and Belonging.

Open to all interested community members in Ely and surrounding areas.

To register your interest, please e-mail: [email protected]

Join #JTA’s private Facebook group for support, networking and shared learning: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JTAEly/

5 Modern Slavery Day Sunday 18 October, 10.30am Eucharist for Modern Slavery Day* livestreamed from Ely Cathedral.

Preacher: Bishop Alastair Redfern Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern is chair of The Clewer Initiative, the Church of England’s anti-slavery campaign, and a co-founder of the advisory board of the independent anti-slavery commissioner. He is vice-chair of the Anglican Alliance and chair of the Global Sustainability Network both of which work on issues of modern slavery and human trafficking at a global level. From 2005-2018 he served as the Bishop of Derby, and as a member of the House of Lords he was part of the select committee which designed the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

President: The Very Revd Mark Bonney Dean of Ely

* Please book your place via our website from 9am on Monday 12 October: www.elycathedral.org/public-worship/sunday-eucharist-booking or watch online: www.elycathedral.org/public-worship/live-streamed-eucharists

The Eucharist will be followed by a livestream presentation by Shayne Tyler, Compliance Manager for Fresca Foods and campaigner against modern slavery and exploitative work, and a short conversation between Shayne, Canon Martin and Caroline Virgo from The Clewer Initiative. There will be a pop-up exhibition, courtesy of the National Crime Agency, Invisible People: Human Trafficking in the ,UK in the Cathedral’s North Transept during Sunday 18 October.

The livestream presentation and discussion will begin at around noon and end about12.30pm. It will be available following the livestream on the Ely Cathedral YouTube channel, along with other resources for Modern Slavery Day from The Clewer Initiative. Shayne Tyler is the Group Compliance Director for a leading fresh produce supplier to retail accounts. He relies on over 20 years of experience directly managing variable levels of employee exploitation identification and resolution, where he has actively helped shape legislation, guidance, best practice and support mechanisms for the prevention and eradication of worker abuse.

6 Caroline Virgo is the Director of The Clewer Initiative. A former barrister, she has been involved in faith based charities and the Church throughout her working life, both in the UK and abroad. Caroline founded the Bristol Debt Advice Centre (now Talking Money) in 1990 and Hope’s Place in 2004. Prior to joining The Clewer Initiative as a development officer in 2016 she worked for the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth for five years, first as an external consultant on the Curial Review Board and then as setting up several new initiatives for the incoming Bishop, culminating as Director of Development of Caritas Diocese of Portsmouth.

Modern Slavery and Exploitative Work

Thursday 22 October, 6.30pm - 7.30pm A Zoom discussion for those interested based on Shayne Tyler’s presentation and discussion and the other resources made available by The Clewer Initative.

Going Deeper:

Hidden Voices - In June 2020 Ely Cathedral ran an event in partnership with The Clewer Initiative and market towns project focusing on responding to modern slavery and exploitation in the Fenlands. It was identified that a community response is vital to prevent exploitation and support those affected. One of the ways in which communities can form responses is by participating in The Clewer Initiative’s community mobilisation course ‘Hidden Voices’. The purpose of Hidden Voices is to raise awareness in the church of the presence of modern slavery in communities across the UK and to move the church towards action: in prevention, detection, and caring for survivors. We are now running online courses which take place over four sessions. If your church is interested in participating please get in contact with The Clewer Initiative at: [email protected]

Farm Work Welfare App - In 2018 Stop the Traffik carried out research focusing on the problem of exploitation in the Fenland area, and following on from this in 2019 the Rosmini centre hosted a conference funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government’s Controlling Migration Fund. The learning gained from these events highlighted that there was a key role for church communities to play in protecting migrant workers from exploitation in the Fenland area. One of the key tools available to respond to rural exploitation is The Farm Work Welfare App produced by The Clewer Initiative to support rural employers, promote workforce welfare, and tackle exploitation in the agricultural industry. The App is available on the Apple and Android app stores and comes in seven languages. Churches can play a key role in supporting those affected by exploitation in the Fenlands by raising awareness and promoting the use of The Farm Work Welfare App amongst migrant communities.