BBC: Chocolate boost for Sao Tome farmer

Well done to the BBC for writing this article. Fairtrade makes a real difference to real people. I’ve been a big fan of the movement for about 10yrs now; even sacrificing Yorkshire Tea for something with a Fairtrade logo.

Most people like to apply labels to people based on their views. When I stand-up passionately for the Fairtrade movement, I usually get the ‘lefty’ label; probably reads the Guardian. Some people would of course be proud to bear that particular badge but I don’t like it at all.

I have no problem with the Guardian or even with many left-wing policies. I don’t like the label because it is an easy way to dismiss something really important. The truth is that I’m more likely to read the Telegraph than the Guardian, although I happily read both.

Maybe, I’m one of those new-fangled green-credential Tories? Well, I admit to voting Conservative (most of time; except, when voting Liberal is a better local choice). I’m not cameronite either; probably one of the few people who thought a Lib-Con coalition was a great idea.

Non of this matters; it is a distraction from a really important issue. Trading fairly with the developing world is not leftie; or green; or new-Tory; or liberal; it’s the right thing to do.

Economist non-sense

I read an article in the Telegraph a few years ago slating the entire movement as a distortion of the markets. Apparently, it made things worse for the developing world, not better. The problem with the article, was it was written by a bunch of economists sat behind desks. It was based on their world-view and not hard data. The facts actually dismissed their views easily but I’m guessing the article wasn’t scientific – just ideology.

Shame on the Telegraph for printing such pseudo-science; I mean, if it had been the Daily Mail, I’d have understood.

I’m not just a Tory voter, I’m also a capitalist. I believe in most of the hard-nose Thatcherite, policy ideals. I’d happily vote for flat-rate tax or lower corporation tax. Fairtrade, is trade; it helps the developing world to create their own markets. The more trade, the more we all profit.

If a farmer moves out of poverty, he becomes a consumer, the whole economy benefits. Local people are able to sell the farmer their products, they also become wealthier and in-turn become consumers. I wonder whether those desk-economists investigated this dynamic?

It used to cost us a few pence more on our tea or coffee; these days, it’s about even. What is pennies to us, is food on the table in the developing world. All we are doing is playing fair. Instead of our tea and coffee costing a farmer on the other side of the world his life; it’s actually giving him a life.

What about Jesus?

Gone are the days of the poor farmer being nothing more than a slave to big western company. Now the farmer can actually get paid what his product is worth. It’s all very Christian; it strikes me as astounding how many Christians are indifferent to these things.

God has a lot to say about injustice. King Jehoiakim, was condemned for building his palace with slave labour. Is that what we have done in the west with our nice comfortable lives. Have we built comfort into our lives by exploiting the worlds poor?

This sort of rhetoric is no way to win friends! but, should we as Christians not stand-up for the things that God stands for. God hates injustice, if you don’t believe me read Isaiah 58.

Some Christians would say preach-on; they are usually the ones wearing those left-wing labels already mentioned. What about us market-capitalists? The market can only be free, if it is also fair. Corruption of any kind is like cancer that eats away the heart of a nation.

Anyway, this blog is supposed to be about Citytaking principles for churches? The point is, it matters whether your church serves Fairtrade tea & Coffee; it matters to Jesus, it should matter to us. It matters to God that our cup of tea was paid for by virtual slave labour.

Bit of balance

This all sounds like preaching and ideology.  The truth is that I don’t buy Fairtrade all the time.  Wow, doesn’t that make you a hypocrite?  Well, maybe, maybe not. 90% of my tea and 100% of my coffee is fairly traded.  It’s difficult to buy Fairtrade from the corner shop.  Sometimes, I go out of my way to buy fair but other times I just shop local.

Non of this is an excuse; 90% and 100% makes a difference to real people.  The other 10% I’m trying to cut down on by being more organised.  Wherever you on the fair v exploitation, you can start moving towards a more Christian shopping habit.  Your church should already be there, if it isn’t, get them to change.

I remember it well, any church that was reaching young people (I was one at the time) would have a manifestation of doughnuts after the service.  Good times :)

We still offer the the doughnut experience at our prayer meetings but it’s is more of hospitality thing. Also, we’ve moved on to the Homer Simpson kind; round ones with pink icing, rather than the messy jam ones.

So, in terms of hospitality, what are the essentials today?  It’s a good question, not sure if I really have a good answer; here’s what we do:

• Good coffee is key.  Since the Starbucks revolution people expect to get percolated coffee rather than Instant Fairtrade.  The coffee should of course still be Fairtrade but the type that requires a machine.  We got our machine for about £60 online and it’ll make for 60 people in one load.
• Tea, well as always, not the weak church tea that some places offer.  Okay, maybe that is just a Northern English Man’s thing.
• Eats of some kind, we usually go for iced-doughnuts, a few Danish pastries and some American cookies.
• Fresh fruit juices (ie. from the carton), ideally the ‘not from concentrate’ variety but this isn’t essential.

That is the basic level, it needs to look good and smell great.  We never have a lot of food, most people don’t want it, its more for that welcoming feeling than giving people something to eat.  Also, since this is England, less than half will drink the coffee but the smell is totally awesome.

On a Sunday, we often send someone around with a bowl of celebrations/mini-heroes pre-service.  It’s essential that it is carried around by a server to have affect rather than help yourself.  Celebrations also work better than Roses/Quality street as people can recognise the branding of Marsbars, Malteasers…etc.  No-one wants to route around in a bowl of sweets looking for their favourites, you can see what you want straight-away with Celebrations.  We don’t do this every week either as it loses impact.

NB: We don’t bother with the eats on Sunday morning, it feels like too much fuss.  However, we still offer real coffee.

The Christian Centre, has almost doubled in the last few years.  Most people say they stayed with us initially because we made them so welcome. It sort of goes like this:

• We visited because we saw your website
• We came a again because you went out of your way to welcome us
• We stayed longterm because we like the worship and the teaching

Interestingly, those who were not Christians on their first visit tend to be even more impressed with the welcome; maybe, Christians just expect it?

He’s now at St.Aldgate’s in Oxford.  Found four great sermons of his on prayer:

NB: These are linked directly from the St.Aldgate’s website.

Revolutionise Your Prayer Life (Gordon Hickson)

Despite the somewhat rambling tunes; I hope it inspires and sparks ideas. I guess, the preacher in me is always itching to get a platform.

Link: Citywhat?

About 18-months ago we decided to abandon this meeting as it had run its course.  It was still reasonably well attended and God was still speaking and inspiring prayer through it.  However, it needed a period of death (unless a small grain of wheat dies …etc); it’d become stale and needed to move-on in some way.

The vision for the Citytakers was still strong and lots of ideas about the next move were flying through my mind.  I guess this is the day of small beginnings, let’s see where it goes.