At work together

'The place where Britain will be converted is the workplace', said Mark Greene, the Director of the Institute for Contemporary Christianity.

He was speaking at Spring Harvest's 'At Work Together' Conference, under the chairmanship of Stephen Gaukroger at the International Conference Centre in Harrogate from November 15 to 17. His seminar was entitled 'What every worker wished their church leader knew'. Possibly his words overstate the case, but they certainly reflect the underlying conviction that the world of work is a vital sphere of Christian service.

Including day delegates, a total of 900 people attended, mainly Christians in leadership in industry and commerce, but also a small representation of church leaders.

Each day began with Bible ministry, leading into four seminar groups drawing out key themes. In the afternoons, blocks of seminars took place simultaneously, allowing delegates a wide choice of subjects and speakers. I write in the role of a participant-observer, and shall highlight a few of the emphases and challenges which particularly struck me personally at what I found to be a most worthwhile conference.

Choices

I was present for only two of the three days, and had - like everyone else - to make my choice from the options on offer. The whole event was divided into 15 blocks. With up to seven seminar choices running concurrently, the entire programme comprised a total of 53 sessions. I was able to attend eight of these and heard the following speakers: David Prior, Don Latham, Michael Moynagh, Mark Greene, Fran Beckett, Jeff Lucas, David Hilborn and Prabhu Guptara, out of a total complement of 27. Inevitably, therefore, this report is somewhat impressionistic and does not claim to be comprehensive.

Undergirding all the proceedings was a biblically positive evaluation of the world in general, and the world of work in particular, as God's creation. We were reminded that it is a fallacy to take a dualistic approach which sees significance in being a house-group leader, but regards leadership in a major company as mere 'tent-making', pursued in-between church activities in order to resource the kingdom. The Jewish outlook, which expresses spirituality in enjoying physical things, was contrasted with the ascetic tendency of the Greek mindset, which results in guilt and defensiveness about money and possessions. The question was raised as to why a Christian, complimented on an item of clothing, is likely to say that she has had it for ages and it came from a charity shop. Why would she feel embarrassed to say: 'Oh yes, I bought it last week at Next for £350'? God, however, has created a world which is not purely utilitarian and in which there is ample room for pure enjoyment.

However, this emphasis on joy in material things was healthily counterbalanced by many references to Christian stewardship in a world of widespread poverty. One speaker described the current incidence of malnutrition and premature death as 'no longer a tragedy, but an obscenity', because we now live for the first time in a world in which production has reached a level where there is more than enough for everyone.

Consumerism

The issue of consumerism was tackled by several of the speakers whom I heard. The pressure for rising consumption has destructive consequences in terms of the increasing gap between the rich and the poor, with its potential for social and political disaster, in terms of environmental sustainability, and, mostly seriously of all perhaps, in terms of its deadening effect on human moral sensibility. Apparently, the present pace of technological advance is leading towards a state of affairs where only 10% of the world's population will be needed to do all the work. However, because of greed, little serious thought is being given to how the social consequences should be handled.

Calling

Amid such sobering insights, there was a welcome stress on the positive calling to work which is included in God's calling on the whole of the life of his people. The idea that work in the secular world is a secondary calling as compared with the call to full-time Christian work was eloquently rejected. Christians in the workplace need the power of God in order to be distinctively Christian there. Work was part of God's original creation design and can be a source of pleasure which may bring workers into touch with God's own pleasure in his world.

It was assumed that delegates were in leadership positions in their workplace. Much attention was therefore given to issues of management. There are different leadership styles and God delights in diversity. At the same time, those in leadership must be ready to adjust their style when necessary, in order to be true servants and friends of those whom they lead. Statistics were cited which indicate that people whose leaders involve them in a participatory style of decision-making have greater job satisfaction. One speaker made the salient observation that if business meetings involve a number of people, it must be assumed that they all have a contribution to make. The application of these insights to church life is obvious - and a necessary antidote to the authoritarian tendency which is a pitfall of the pastorate.

Challenges

The role of pastors in relation to their working members was raised. Pastors need to understand the pressures, tensions and challenges of the contemporary working situation, but the increasing pace of the world of work makes it increasingly difficult for them to truly know their people. Every effort must be made to overcome this difficulty, including doing pastoral visiting at the workplace when this is possible and appropriate. It was noted that many Christians find the preaching that they hear reasonably relevant to their personal and family lives, but largely irrelevant to that context - work - in which they spend the bulk of their time. The challenge to pastors is to strive for relevant application in order to resource people for their working lives, and also to create in the church a culture of affirmation of work, through incidental references, for example, in prayer. One idea which especially commended itself to me was to have a wall display of profiles of working members akin to that which many churches have for their missionaries.

Concern

One of the things which impressed me was the concern, at times even passion, on the part of several of the speakers for the gospel, and for revival in our nation. Two themes emerged from this concern. The first was that the key to revival is holy living on the part of the people of God, and this includes holiness at work, where the pressure to compromise integrity is a daily occurrence. The second was that evangelicals must break free from a ghetto mentality, and seek to apply the whole of God's truth to the whole of God's world, including the worlds of government, finance, business, entertainment, and so on. Two of the areas most unreached by God's truth today were said to be the media and the top multinational companies. The speaker made the valid point that if preaching a simple individualistic gospel were sufficient, then God hardly need have bothered giving us the whole Bible. Christians in the workplace must strive to apply biblical truth to the ethical dilemmas which they face every day.

Contrast

During the first morning Bible reading by David Prior of the Centre of Marketplace Theology, I received a new perspective on David and Goliath. Our customary thinking about David's sling was roundly challenged. It was not the equivalent of a schoolboy's catapult. The sling was a powerful weapon, much used among the armies of that time though, crucially, not by the Philistines. The three distinctive qualities of a sling were range, accuracy and mobility. By contrast, Goliath, heavily armoured and carrying a spear, was effectively rooted to the spot with a weapon whose reach was relatively short and whose accuracy was inexact. David was bound to win, as he dedicated his professional skill and tools to the Lord. Goliath did not stand an earthly chance. The professional skills and tools of working people today, dedicated to the Lord, are a winning combination.

A report from the Spring Harvest conference on the world of work

Choices

Consumerism

Calling

Challenges

Concern

Contrast

Jonathan Bayes

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