Continuum (London 2011). Pbk. 152 pages. £12.99.
Told my word limit for this piece I face the same problem as would a biographer of Desmond Tutu, one of Chris's great heroes. Never enough words to do the subject justice. The whole book is fired up by, and a sound testament to, Liberation Theology – 'God on the side of the poor', as the author describes it. Born originally of the civil rights movement in Latin America in the 1960s, latter day liberation theology is far from single issue – fighting, sometimes in a very real sense, against the injustices of today.
Based on his own experiences as an inner city priest in Bradford, developing his church community 'Soul Space' and its meeting place, Desmond Tutu House, the book addresses much of what the community which he built up saw as wrong with the world. It details problems and some very down-to-earth solutions. Some potential readers may shun this book because its title includes the word 'Church', just as some are put off SOF by the word 'Faith'. But if the title had read A Just Life and they had overcome their previous squeamishness, they would have found an inspirational collection of experiences of a man who has unashamedly led protest after protest against injustice, both in the community around him and on a wider stage.
In Part 1 the author explains the mechanics of the establishment of the community and the forces which inspired it. 'Jesus was a rebel in his world.' In Part 2 he explores the issues which he has felt so important. Its chapters read like a relentless check-list of issues which should indeed concern us all: Climate Change, local politics and redevelopment, non-violence, the Palestine/Israeli conflict, International solidarity, asylum seekers, Make Poverty History, Civil Liberties, Racism (local English Defence League rallies) and so on…
Whilst not an actual manifesto for Liberation Theology, the clear message is that actions speak louder than words. And to reinforce the faint hearted or the evasive, likely to share many of his concerns but less likely to do anything about them, most sections of the book offer possible courses of action. The pattern, he suggests, should always be the same: research the issues, take practical action, reflect on the outcomes and then take further action to maintain interest in the cause. Scanning his full range of campaigns and possible responses the largest grouping, characteristically, is nearly always the suggestions for action.
The author is far from being a 'celebrity activist', as are those we sometimes see in the news. He is not afraid to get hurt, nor to get a bad name for his devotion to particular causes. He has fought the authorities and various rival groups (on one occasion using nothing more violent than pillows – an interesting story that). He once led a 'raiding party', illegally breaking into a local cinema to obtain evidence to present against those who threatened demolition of this local community resource. He has been arrested on a number of occasions, at protests in connection with various causes. You know you are making your mark when your house (a vicarage) is under police surveillance, the authorities keen to know what you are going to get up to next!
Chris and his groups, advocates of non-violent protest, have more than once won over others to their cause, sometimes the very police sent to detain them. Informed by research into the facts, they have been able legally and administratively to fight the cases of asylum seekers facing deportation. Threatened with failure, they have hidden families from the authorities who sought them.
Aware of the tensions between the faith groups, in Bradford as much as anywhere, Chris and his associates have worked over the years to bring common understandings. Similarly they have sought to reach those outside the church, striving to avoid the traditional atmosphere 'where ritual, processions and clothing speak more of status than of a God of justice'.
Perhaps you have given up on organised religion. Reading this book will not necessarily drive you to rejoin it, but I guarantee it will cause you to wonder if your own church should not have acted more like his. And even now, before it is too late, you too may wish to act.
Chris has recently taken the post of chaplain at Sunderland University from where he will be coming to our Annual Conference as a keynote speaker.
John Pearson is Chair of SOF Trustees and Director of Learning and Teaching in the Department of Construction Studies at the University of Northumbria.