The two Spring 2023 meetings of CCJ SE London Branch focused on Ethics and Practical Action.

In our meeting on Tuesday 14th March 2023, in St Stephen’s Church, Dulwich, we asked 'Is there a role today for Christianity and/or Judaism in setting standards for British public service?'

We had two very distinguished and eloquent speakers: Daniel Greenberg, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; and Rt Hon Simon Hughes, former MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark Battersea.

We were challenged by very surprising and different answers: Daniel Greenberg took the view that there is no special authority for religious institutions, and that the principles of public life had to be non-sectarian and universal; while Simon Hughes argued that for 2,000 years Christians have taken a key role in setting standards in this country, and the Chief Rabbi has been vocal in reminding us of the guidance “do as you will be done by”. 

In the lively Q&A, there was reference to the many people of faith filling the gap in voluntary services; that ethical standards are not a luxury but a necessity; and the need to restore trust.

For our Big Help Out Event in South East London, on Monday 8th May 2023, CCJ SE London Branch worked together with Lewisham Creative Chorus, and with Christ Church United Reformed Church, Bellingham to clean up the area around the Fellowship Inn-Lewisham Music Centre and Bellingham Station, and to offer a Celebration tea in the Church for Neighbours and Volunteers.

We were well supported in publicising the event by Lewisham Local, an initiative to encourage volunteering in Lewisham.

The excitement of a recent performance by Lewisham Creative Chorus of an original work set in a real and imagined Lewisham, “Stories We Tell Ourselves”, turned out to give a great boost to the number of volunteers (we were at least fifteen), and consequently to the impact our team could have on the target area, working in high vis jackets.   One of our older volunteers was asked by two smartly-dressed young women walking along the high street whether he was doing Community Service; the explanation of The Big Help Out, and the link to The Coronation, seemed a satisfactory response.

Because there was such a sense of achievement after the clean up, and fuelled by the generous spread hosted by the United Reformed Church, there was a real buzz over the tea in the Church (there must have been over 40 people at one time or another meeting and chatting together) with a wonderful mixing of backgrounds, ages, and ethnicity, reflecting our Lewisham.  

This twin activity event, involving three separate voluntary organisations, created a reality of that spirit of togetherness which our newly crowned King and Queen so wish to encourage.