October 2024 

Re: Israel-Palestine: I can’t keep up 

On my visits to Palestine I found similar situations to David.

We will be judged when future generations look at our response to Israel's unbelievable treatment of the Palestinians and Lebanese. Killing of innocent children, aid workers and reporters. The way they have stolen land from Palestinians.

It is time the Baptist Union stood up and really condemned what is happening with a much louder and effective voice. UK bombs are killing innocent people. We are too nice and middle class.

We see what is happening. We have no excuse when we stand before God.

Isreal is not protecting itself; it is aggressive and killing thousands with US and UK bombs which helps both our economies.

Noreen Gilhespy, Queens Road Baptist Church Broadstairs

 

Re: Protests or race riots?

In September’s ‘Comments’, the question of how Baptists should respond to the rise of the far right was addressed. In October, Wale Hudson-Roberts urged that we should condemn the recent disorder as a ‘far-right executed campaign of terror’. It seems to me that Steve Finamore offers a fairer and more hopeful approach in calling for wrongdoers to face justice, but also for ‘spaces of listening and constructive dialogue…for those desperate to have their concerns heard’.

I pastored churches in ‘superdiverse’ Luton. During that time the town loomed large in Islamist extremism and terror plots, gave birth to the English Defence League, and ‘hosted’ large and potentially violent demonstrations by EDL and Anti Fascists. I gradually came to the view that politicians and church leaders alike were ignoring or misrepresenting legitimate concerns of a large section of the local population. I made it my business back then to warn that if those who claim to occupy the centre ground ignore or show contempt for the anxieties of ordinary people, they would be driven into the arms of extremists.

I do hope that any attempts Baptists may make to respond to extremism will not be marred by an uncritical endorsement of the political status quo, or by loose use of the term ‘racism’, or by being as partisan and prodigal as Hope not Hate in applying the label ‘far right’. We need make more effort to understand those many non violent and non hate-filled members of the indigenous population who worry about the future of their country and their communities, have lost faith in the political establishment and do not know where to turn.

Michael Thomas, Grantham Baptist Church