Government wants Norfolk faith community views

The UK Government wants to engage with faith groups in England and has asked for the views of people of faith, church leaders and public servants, among others, to help it decide the best way forward. Keith Morris reports.

The Independent Faith Engagement Review has issued a call for evidence by the December 11 deadline. It is seeking views from the public, and from experts in the field, on the government’s engagement with faith organisations; these views will help underpin the review’s findings and recommendations.
 
It is being led by Government faith engagement adviser Colin Bloom and starts by asking the question: “Are faith groups, places of worship and people of faith a force for good in society?”
 
The review states: “The last few months have been very challenging for places of worship and people of faith. The significant restrictions that have been put in place to control the spread of the virus have limited people’s ability to worship, practice and celebrate their faith as they normally would.
 
“This review began before the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is timely as the recommendations may well come to strengthen how government engages with faith groups during the Covid-19 recovery phase and beyond.Have you seen this?
 
Encouraging others to make a submission, Craig Deal, lead pastor at Gateway Vineyard in Norwich, said:  “This is our opportunity to let those in government know about the good that we do and the impact churches have on people’s lives and in the communities that we love and serve.
 
“We hope the government will use the evidence in this survey to gain a better understanding of churches and that they will then take the needs of churches into account in future decision making.”
 
You can contribute your thoughts and ideas to the consultation online here, before the deadline of December 11

Pictured above, the Houses of Parliament. Picture by Keith Morris.