What should be the role of a Christian Professional Group?

We were recently contacted by the leader of a Christian professional group who wanted to know whether:

Should Christian professional groups see themselves as campaigning groups, with definite viewpoints on controversial issues which arise in their professional spheres, and which they actively promote within their professions? Or ...

Should they see their role as mainly providing a forum in which their members can debate professional issues, and in which individuals are encouraged to reach their own conclusions? "

What do you think? Feel free to comment below:

Your Response:

A number of subsidiary questions arise from this.

If groups see themselves as primarily a campaigning group, then how should they:

Ascertain that the views being expressing really reflect the views of their members?
How would they deal with individual members (perhaps a minority) who may dissent from the views of the majority?

Your Response:

On the other hand, if groups see themselves as mainly a forum for the exchange of views, how should they:

Deal with pressure from some individual members, or members of the wider Christian community, who may want to take a tougher line on a particular issue?

Your Response:

It may be that most groups will see themselves, to some extent, as fulfilling both roles. In that case:

How should they decide which issues warrant the expression of an "official view" and which are merely matters for discussion or individual conscience?

What do you think? Do you have any examples of issues, from your particular profession?

Your Response:

Also, do you think Christians are justified in feeling under pressure or persecuted in the workplace today? There have been some recent cases in which Christians have been in trouble for offering to pray for clients, for wearing a cross at work, or whatever.

Have there been examples of this within your own profession, and how far has your group become involved in the disputes?

Your Response:

Trevor Phillips, of the Equalities Commission, has recently acknowledged that many Christians feel under siege in contemporary Britain, but also suggested that some evangelical Christians are using these disputes as a means of lobbying for political power. Would you agree or disagree with him? In other words are the Christians in these disputes contending for the faith - or just spoiling for a fight?

Your Response:

What do you think? Let us know by completing the boxes above and hitting the 'Send' button below.

All responses will be kept in strict confidence, although we will summarize any findings.

Michael Coveney, 03/10/2011