What can the Church learn from Corbynmania?
The success of Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign for the Labour Party leadership has taken most commentators by surprise. Corbyn, veteran MP for Islington, has become the focal point of a resurgence of interest in left wing politics. The story is not so much about Corbyn, who appears to be a self-effacing man not interested in creating a cult of personality, but in what he represents – aspiration to a new political and economic system, and a movement of social and worldview change, attracting lots of idealistic young people.
This is where the church should sit up and take notice. What is going on? Is there anything we can learn? Are there any parallels between contemporary Britain, a divided Labour Party and this bid by Corbyn’s supporters to shape the future of the nation on one hand, and on the other, the Church of England, containing different points of view but a shared commitment to mission?
One group of Anglicans will conclude that as Corbyn’s success comes from being unashamedly left wing, so the Church of England should be unreservedly on the side of the poor and oppressed, against big business and the rich, for the renationalisation of public utilities, multiculturalism, gay rights and Palestinian liberation; against conservativism in all its forms.
Young people and Guardian readers will listen and be gripped when they hear the message that Jesus wouldn’t approve of Trident nuclear missiles, zerohours contracts and benefit cuts, the argument goes. Anglicans should be trying to reach out to those who don’t go to church, rather than appeasing the conservatives in it. What goes on in church services and Synods is largely irrelevant to the majority of people, who are full of doubt when it comes to God but certain about Keynesian economics and an end to austerity – we should preach that!
Another group, with a presence among rank and file churchgoers but not the church leadership, will be saying similar things from a right wing political perspective – the C of E should be more in tune with UKIP supporters.
In response to this, influential voices will say that promoting these ideas will simply accelerate the decline of the C of E. UKIP support before the election did not translate into votes; the Bennite “loony left” lost elections in the past.
Most people in middle England are cautious, with a strong sense of justice and fair play but also appreciative of, for example, private enterprise and relatively low taxes. They want the Church of England, like the government, to be “middle of the road” – not too enthusiastic about religion, but also not too obviously aligned to the politics of the left or right. Tony Blair and David Cameron won elections by listening carefully to the mood of the nation, and being seen to balance economic prudence with social compassion. In the same way the Church, in both its local parish form and on the national stage, can win back respect and increased membership by doing weddings, funerals and school assemblies well, by speaking out on topics which have majority approval, and by erring on the side of “centrist, safe and secure” rather than “radical and challenging”.
A fourth group will say that the best way for the Church to apply lessons of Corbyn’s success is by following not his left wing politics, but his being true to his own principles which reflect some of the original values with which his party was formed. In the same way the Church of England should not be courting the media or pandering to the views of middle England, but proclaiming clearly and confidently the radical doctrines on which it was founded. These are, that God definitely exists. The Bible is true. Humanity is made in God’s image, male and female. All have sinned, but Jesus’ death is the way of reconciliation with God and one another. The Holy Spirit enables us to live the life God wants. The Church should be recognisably Christian, just as Labour should be recognisably socialist. While the Church is not looking to get “elected” into power and govern the nation, it’s not a ghetto. Christians, their churches and families provide stability to society, and also godly wisdom which can be brought to bear on ideologies and policies of left, right and centre. This understanding of church appears to be the most successful in terms of the growth and enthusiasm of grassroots activists, ie local congregations.
Whichever group succeeds in gaining most influence in the C of E, the challenge for the Church, as for political parties, is gaining a hearing among the vast majority of people who are interested in neither. And by the way, I should say that there are other candidates in the Labour leadership election.