Election forum at Willowfield
Whilst it could hardly be called ‘election fever' there is plenty of evidence around Northern Ireland by way of posters and through the media to alert us to the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly Election taking place on Wednesday 7th March.
Whatever your views happen to be on yet another election it is important that Christians in Northern Ireland are encouraged to think and talk about issues that affect us all to some extent - whether it is education, health, environment, sport, rates, water charges - all of these are political concerns.
With the election date fast approaching Willowfield Parish in East Belfast held an Election Forum and invited candidates standing for election in their area to take the platform and answer questions from the audience. Bishop Harold was one of the many who went along and this is what he had to say afterwards:
‘Last night was a fascinating experience for me when representatives from nine of the parties standing in East Belfast came to an Election Forum in Willowfield Church Hall. To be honest, I went partly because I was invited, and partly because I have no idea who I'm going to vote for! But it was one of those evenings which made me realize the different world we inhabit in the Northern Ireland of 2007.
Three things in particular struck me:
Not one of the questions asked all evening was about the constitutional issue. Whether the politicians will be up for it or not, the ordinary people of Belfast have moved on to the bread and butter issues. They want real answers to real questions which impact their day to day lives: and they are going to want those answers from the Folks on the Hill. Some of the focus on bread and butter issues has been ‘inspired' by annoyance at the unaccountable way in which we perceive the British government to have been dealing with Northern Ireland of late. But it is clear that there is a real groundswell for Stormont to be up and running and answerable to the people. My only worry is that many of the candidates are only in the process of reinventing themselves, and do not have a great deal of depth in their answers about these issues. But I won't say which ones!
Sinn Fein was present. Their candidate, Niall Donnelly, publicaly observed that this was a first, and was very grateful to be invited to an election forum in a protestant church. In past elections, he would have had to stay within certain geographical confines. And, do you know what? The presence of the Sinn Fein candidate did not seem to be an issue for the people present. They listened with respect, were glad to hear the points of view of all the candidates, and any grumpiness was reserved for the Conservative party in its views on education! Changed times indeed. But, as I said at the end of the meeting, ‘If they can sing "God save the Queen" at Croke Park, I think we can manage to have the Sinn Fein candidate in Willowfield Hall!
There was a real sense that the Church is getting more involved in our political world. But also, perhaps, that we in the church are still, in many cases, at the level of questioning others rather than taking the vocation to politics seriously ourselves. Politicians only emerge from among ordinary people. That was obvious. In many ways the candidates were very ordinary! But Christians need to pray that the church will take the vocation to serve the community in the world of politics more seriously, rather than simply grilling others!
I still haven't decided who to vote for, but I'm greatly cheered by what has happened and is continuing to happen under the surface. We must never go back. And congratulations to Willowfield for serving the community in this way. Others churches could benefit from doing likewise.'
Some of our Christian organisations have come together and set up an election website to encourage local Christians to think, pray and reflect. The site http://nielection2007.blogspot.com has a blog spot and also offers ideas for prayers, readings and reflections to include in church services.