A force for good

In the 1980s, Anglican leaders such as Dr Robert Runcie, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, queued up to condemn the Thatcher government over its handling of the recession – and its betrayal of the poor. Practical policy advice was in short supply as the CoE became highly politicised.

Contrast this with Dr Sentamu's approach as he broke away from the soul-searching at the General Synod in York to highlight the "real human cost being felt by families across Yorkshire" as the Government's cuts begin to bite, and as business leaders meet to consider ways of filling the void that is being created by the winding up of Yorkshire Forward.

He has backed up his powerful warning that past mistakes are in danger of being repeated, and whole communities being ignored by decision-makers, by expanding his pioneering initiative, Acts 435, nationwide.

Its purpose is a practical one – it gives details of churchgoers who are in financial need, and how they can be assisted by local congregations. It is also about communities, with the local church as a focal point, pulling together and using their collective will to mitigate the impact of these challenging economic times on the vulnerable.

Already successful in Yorkshire, Dr Sentamu clearly believes that his scheme can work at a national level. We wish him well. For, if his vision is successful, it has the potential to change countless lives for the better – and show that the CoE is still a force for good, and hope, in spite of its never-ending internal strife.