I just spent my lunchtime watching the webcast of Tony Blair’s Faithworks lecture. Me and about 10 000 other people according to Steve Chalk.

I’ve campaigned for my party before, but hey … it’s who I am!

There were some comments and actions that encouraged me from the lecture:

Tony Blair made reference to the fact that nearly every community has valuable input from ‘the local church’. He particularly mentioned the fact that it is the church that it doing a lot of positive and good work with young people. ‘You inspire young people by being unashamed about your beliefs.’

Later when he took questions he made comment to the situation most of us find ourselves in at least part of the time. The situation of local government wanting what we do, but not wanting to be associated with our faith. Steve Chalk stated ‘ They want me to do the work, but they ask me to deny who I am’. Tony’s immediate response was

‘Local government needs to lose the hang up about that.’

Later Blair was pressed on his faith. Encouragingly he said he did not wish faith to become politically used as it is in America with the comment of – there is more to our faith than our worship, it is about our everyday actions as well.

Make Poverty History was discussed and endorsed. He stated that the main issue to fight for today was that of poverty, both home and abroad. Blair was given a white band by Steve Chalke – look tonight and in the future on the TV to see if he is still wearing it!

All in all I was encouraged to hear what was said – you can see all 3 lectures from Blair, Howard and Kennedy at the faithworks page linked above.