Working with the people of peace to seek society's wellbeing

Britain comes third from the bottom in Western Europe in terms of ‘wellbeing’. ^[1] This recent report by the independent thinktank the New Economics Foundation is one of a number of projects concerned with the concept of ‘wellbeing’. ^[2] The theme of wellbeing lies at the heart of Forum for Change, based on Jeremiah’s challenge to seek the peace and prosperity of society.

In the F4C Seminar on 31 January Dr Elaine Storkey highlighted that, in order to seek the wellbeing of society, we need to work with ‘people of peace’ who may not share our faith but share the goal to work for the common good.

Academics, artisans, educationalists, media makers, entrepreneurs and local politicians spoke about the need for a Christian imagination, adopting a long term view and asking the question how to bring wellbeing through the vocations.

Elaine furthermore spoke about the need to look at the foundations of our work, whether it is educational modules, enterprise or the NHS. The Christian worldview needs to be at the foundations and Christians need to be explicit about their worldview in their professional lives for it permeates what we do and how we work.

Constructive social change requires a strategic joint-up engagement. Moreover, in our interconnected world, the seeking of the wellbeing has a global dimension.

Dialogue across the sectors is vital and concerns the formation of ‘critical yeast’, a unique linkage across a wide variety of sectors and locations. The seminar attended by professionals from the NorthWest and beyond was buzzing with conversation.

The day was held at the Lowry Gallery at the heart of mediacity:uk, a hub of enterprise, arts, media and education. The telling of transformational stories sparked a Christian imagination which is vital in the process of imagining society anew.

[1] Measure smiles, not just GDP: British 'among least happy in Europe' www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jan/24/british-identity-new-economics-foundation-happiness

[2] www.neweconomics.org/gen/z_sys_publicationdetail.aspx?pid=279