by Obanuju Mbah, Christian Today
A new Church of England paper calling on Christians to help heal growing divisions sees an increasingly important role in modelling “a healthy sense of patriotism” while resisting both nationalism and political polarisation.
The report, “Promoting Unity in Our Nation”, has been drafted by the Bishops’ Working Group and will be discussed by members of the Church of England’s General Synod when it meets in York from July 10 to 14.
Chaired by the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, the working group examines the causes of social fragmentation and sets out the Church’s role in fostering stronger communities at a time of “acute” divisions.
The report identifies five priorities for the Church: practising humility, encouraging an inclusive form of English patriotism, recognising the dignity of every person, building relationships across social and cultural divides, and forming active citizens equipped to contribute to public life.
It says churches should be places where people from different backgrounds encounter one another, learn civic responsibility, and develop the skills needed to participate constructively in society.
Among the practical suggestions are encouraging churches to host community celebrations, strengthen relationships with people of different faiths, support civic participation, and create opportunities for meaningful encounters across social divisions.
“Parish churches can play a very significant role in hosting community celebrations. And there is no reason why these celebrations should not focus on pride in our nation — as long as this is done in a way which includes everybody, is honest about our history, and does not seek to be triumphalist,” the report reads.
The report calls for an honest reckoning with the Church’s own history, including its links to the transatlantic slave trade and more recent safeguarding failures, arguing that humility must underpin its public witness.
It points to widening wealth inequality, the decline of traditional civic institutions and community organisations, increasingly fractured media consumption, and the demonisation of minority groups as key factors driving social division.