Newsletter 112 January 2020
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Dear Friends
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2020! We’re a few weeks in,
and already there’s lots going on for JPIT, and in the wider world.
In December’s General Election, we saw the biggest majority
in Government since 2001, changing the political landscape for the coming
years. For both those communities who have new representation and those with returning MPs there’s a chance to get to know the people who represent you in parliament. You can find advice below on how to get to know your MP.
2020 is also the year of JPIT’s National Conference, Renewal
and Rebellion: Faith, Economy and Climate. We’re excited to welcome you to
Derby on 7th March, and ask ‘What If’ things could look different,
for people and for planet? In this newsletter, we’re asking if you could be
part of making the conference happen.
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The beginning of a new decade often presents us with the chance
for a new start, to set new goals for change. As we face rising global
temperatures causing disasters around the world, including Australia, and the rise of diplomatic tensions between countries, we continue to seek ways to bring peace and justice to a world
longing to know God’s reconciliation. We hope that some of the opportunities we
offer give you the chance to explore what making change could look like for
yourself, your community and the world.
Every Blessing,
Hannah
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It’s now only six weeks to go until Renewal and
Rebellion: Faith, Economy and Climate, JPIT’s 2020 Conference. Nearly 200 of
you have booked to come along, and we are looking forward to seeing you in
Derby.
If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, now is a great time! Workshops
are filling up fast, so to make sure you get to the workshop of your choice book as soon as possible.
We have a number of FREE TICKETS available for students, those on low
incomes or those receiving additional financial support, thanks to the generous
donations of other JPIT supporters. If you haven’t booked yet because you’re
not sure you can afford it, or if you know of someone who might want to come,
please access a free ticket through the ticket booking system. We’d love to see
you there.
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Spotlight on: Volunteers
It takes a village to get the JPIT Conference up and
running, and you can be part of the team! We’re looking for volunteers to help
at the JPIT Conference, to fill a variety of roles on the day. Could you be on our:
- Car parking team?
- Welcome team?
- Workshop team?
- Front of house team?
- Set up and set down team?
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Some of these roles only require
support during part of the day, so you will still get to enjoy everything the
conference has to offer. Stewards will need to be available before the start of
the conference, for a team briefing. If you are first aid trained, we would especially appreciate your help.
Could this be you? If you can
help us out, get in touch at enquiries@jointpublicissues.org.uk,
and let us know what role you would like to fill, whether you have first aid training and what times you could be
available on the 7th March. If you have any questions, get in touch
too and we would be happy to help.
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We’re Hiring!
Do you want to work as part of a team bringing about
meaningful change in the world? Are you interested in making links between
faith, policy and politics?
Applications for the JPIT Internship for 2020-2021 are now
open. Beginning in September 2020, this one-year paid internship offers opportunities to develop skills in
research, campaigning and communication, which will enable you to work on a
range of issues as part of a dynamic team. There will also be opportunities for
professional and personal learning and development to equip you for
employment after your time on the internship.
Josie, our intern for 2019-2020, said: “I’ve loved working
as the JPIT intern. It’s been great working with the team and for an
organisation that ties together two of my passions—faith and social justice.
I’ve loved having the opportunity to engage in a variety of different tasks – each
day is different!”
If this could be you or someone you know, find out more
here:
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Living Lent is back!
During Lent 2020, we are once again inviting Christians to
gather as a community and journey together towards radical change for the
climate.
As a global community, we are facing new and significant
challenges. How do we respond as Christians? We know that our lifestyles and
choices mean we have played a role in damaging creation. But many of us are
also desperate to change, as we hope to see creation flourish as God designed.
So where do we begin?
We recognise that responding to the climate crisis is not
just an activity but a lifestyle. That’s why during Lent we’re inviting you
to take the first step by making a positive commitment towards change.
Together, we will each take on one of our six challenges, and
in doing so gather together as a dispersed community, to explore the difference
personal lifestyle change really makes in response to a global crisis. We will
share in daily e-mail reflections, digging deeper into how the Lenten season of
questioning and uncertainty might enable us to grapple with the challenges
before us.
Find out what’s new for 2020 and
sign up here:
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If you were part of the Living Lent
community in 2019, join us again! With new daily material, it’s another chance
to explore how you can go deeper in your commitment to faith and the world. You
will need to sign up on the website again, which you can do by clicking the link above.
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Are you a poet?
We’re looking for poets to help us explore some of our Lenten themes, and help the Living Lent community explore how their faith and taking action on the climate might overlap. If you’d be interested in getting involved, email us at enquiries@jointpublicissues.org.uk, with some examples of your work.
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Did you use JPIT’s General Election Resources? We’d love your feedback!
We’d love to hear whether you found JPIT’s resources helpful during the General Election period, to help us in the future. We’ve put together a few quick questions to help us hear your responses.
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Meet Your Newly Elected MP
With a new year we welcomed in a
new parliament, including a number of new MPs (and lots of returning ones).
Rosella explores why this is a good time to get to know your MP better and how you
might go about it.
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2020 Vision
2020 is going to be a big year for climate action, as
Glasgow gears up to host the United Nations Climate Change meeting COP26 in
November. Rachel Mander, from Hope for the Future, writes a guest blog about
how you can talk to your MP about committing to action.
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What If…?
At the JPIT Conference, we will be venturing to ask ‘What If?’ things could be different, for people and for planet. But what does engaging our imaginations and asking ‘What If?’ really involve, and how could it lead us towards positive change? Hannah explores in her latest blog.
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Faith in Politics Podcast
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‘Relief or Return: the role of
International Development’ with Sir Desmond Swayne
This month’s Faith in Politics
looks at the role of international development in UK foreign policy. Sir
Desmond Swayne, ex-Minister for International Development, talks of the ease
of being a Christian in the UK, the intersection of ecclesiastical law in
parliament and his shifting views on Foreign Aid. Cameron and Rosella muse on
the role of aid, and how grace challenges our understanding of giving and taxes
and what a return on this might look like.
You can listen to the podcast on most Podcast streaming platforms, including iTunes and Spotify.
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Job Opportunity
Could you help
churches commit to sustained climate action?
In 2020, a coalition of Churches and Christian charities are
coming together to help church communities commit to taking action for the
environment, as part of their commitment to faith. We’re looking for a Project
Co-ordinator, who can lead ambitious plans to bring together churches from across
traditions and around the country for a Climate Sunday in the autumn. Could
this be you or someone you know? Take a closer look here:
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How can your money
make change?
Interested in opening up conversations about money, faith
and a fairer world? The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR)
has launched a new resource as part of a national programme called Money Makes
Change.
It’s an accessible, interactive resource for small groups designed to
help you inspire conversation, prayer and action around a range of issues. A
preview of the resource and accompanying materials can be downloaded here and a full version requested for free
from info@eccr.org.uk.
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Lent with All We Can
The climate story and me: how can
the radical stories of Jesus help us to respond to the growing climate crisis? This
Lent, you could go beyond giving up chocolate again, and radically change the
story. Journey with All We Can in a devotional resource that will help you
reflect on how Jesus’ storytelling can motivate us to take that action. You
will pray, read, reflect, learn, be challenged by the stories of others, share
together and – most importantly – act. There’s even a JPIT challenge in there!
Order your copies of the
devotional, find out about other lent resources and radically change your story
here: allwecan.org.uk/lent
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How could you be
talking about public issues this month?
- On January 31st, the UK will begin its transition
out of the EU. As we live in communities which share different opinions about
what this means for our future, could you promote positive dialogue? Our
resource Conversation Welcome is designed to help local churches and community
groups provide a setting where informed, reasonable debate can take place. Find
it here.
- As we gear up to Lent, could you use this time to talk about
the commitments we are making to living justly? Ask your friends and family if
they’re planning to give anything up, and share your Living Lent challenge.
This could be a chance to talk about why we are choosing to change, in faith –
for people and planet. Find Living Lent Resources here.
- With your MP! Set up a meeting with your local
representative, and talk to them about the public issues your community cares about. You can find resources to help you with this here. If you’d like some advice or top tips, get in touch with us at enquries@jointpublicissues.org.uk.
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Dates for your diary
28th
January – The Next Step: Getting involved in Government & Politics after
university, Christians in Politics, Houses of Parliament. Book your space here.
1st February – Methodist Student Gathering, Cliff
College. Book your space here.
9th February – Racial Justice Sunday, 25th Anniversary. Find resources here.
20th February –Penthouse and Pavement: Is the gap
between rich and poor inevitable? Paul Morrison at Wes Talks – The New Room,
Bristol. Find out more here.
23rd February – Church Action on Poverty Sunday. Find resources here.
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