'Christians in Politics' head and singer-songwriter at NJPN Conference

Andy Flannagan

The 2022 Conference of the National Justice & Peace Network, due to be held in Swanwick, Derbyshire, on 22-24 July, will hear a presentation from the Executive Director of Christians in Politics as one of the keynote speakers. He is also a sing-songwriter and will be performing some of his music.

Andy Flannagan believes that decisions are made by those who show up, striving to put kingdom values to the forefront of discussions. Christians in Politics draws together Christians from across the political parties and beyond, and from across the breadth of the church. Andy yearns to see a just rewiring of the global economic system. He is author of 'Those who show up' (Muddy Pearl, 2015). In the forward, Archbishop Justin Welby writes: "Andy is reaching out, inspiring and equipping us to become engaged with a system that affects us deeply, and through which we in turn can effect radical and transformational change across our society."

Andy juggles his political work with his career as a singer-songwriter and on the Saturday evening of the conference Andy will lead a musical evening entitled, 'Songs of Pain, Justice and Hope'.

The theme of the 44th NJPN annual conference is 'Hope! a verb with its sleeves rolled up'. The gathering of Justice and Peace activists from around England and Wales aims to inspire participants to look for signs of hope in local communities and in the wider world.

Other keynote speakers include Philip McDonagh, an Irish diplomat and poet, and Fr Patrick Devine SMA, who works to mitigate conflict and poverty in Africa. The conference chair is Tim Livesey, CEO of Embrace the Middle East, which works with Christian partners in Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria and Iraq, serving marginalised and excluded communities.

Rev Ruth Gee, Assistant Secretary of the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain and Patron of NJPN, will lead an Ecumenical service on the Saturday. Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace, will preside at Mass on the Sunday.

A Just Fair will provide a marketplace for organisations wishing to share information and opportunity for action on a wide range of issues. A wide range of workshops touch on themes of Tax Justice, A Synodal Church, Peacebuilding, Work with Seafarers and Fixing the Food System.

For more information and booking information see: www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/

There are special programmes for children and teens. Some bursaries for young people still available.