Andrew Pratt of the Manchester & Stockport Methodist District has written a powerful new hymn called “if we claim to love our neighbour”. He was inspired to do this by a presentation that our Team gave at March’s Synod meeting, based on our Love your neighbour: think, pray, vote resources, which are hosted on our election 2015 web pages. If you haven’t visited these recently, please check in, as there are new links and other information.

You can see Andrew Pratt’s hymn at the Singing The Faith Plus website, along with a reflection on the power and value of hymns by Andrew Bradstock. We are also pleased to reproduce the hymn below. Please read it, and sing it!

So much of the work that the Joint Public Issues Team does relies on the passion, enthusiasm and engagement of thinking, praying Christians across our four denominations. Our praxis means living out our faith and seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, in our daily lives. This means constantly finding new ways to communicate and act for justice, including writing to MPs, supporting campaigns, marching for justice, and contemporary media such as video clips and social media. But as far as we know, this is the first hymn inspired directly by a JPIT presentation!

As Andrew Bradstock’s reflection points out, hymns are not just forms of worship and celebration, but can also express solidarity with those who have suffered injustice, and a commitment to work for change. We hope to see more creative responses like this, to a world crying out for Truth, Justice, Peace and Wellbeing. In the words of the prophet Amos, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24, NRSV).