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Home / The Symon Hill Column

The Symon Hill Column

Ekklesia associate director Symon Hill reflects on religion, society and politics

  • 29 Mar 2012
    Mind the gap: inequality and class

    Economic inequality is growing in the UK. The government is slashing the welfare state, while parts of the media demonise disabled people, benefit recipients and the working class generally. Since the 1990s, churches in the UK have spoken out strongly about global inequality. Are we now prepared to speak up just as strongly about inequality in the UK, and to make the links with the global situation?

  • 31 Jan 2012
    David Lammy and the smacking controversy: It's all about class

    One of the nastier stereotypes about working class people is that they hit their children. Now, however, working class people are being blamed for not hitting their children enough. Politicians and columnists who are encouraging parents to smack their children are relying on prejudice and class stereotypes.

  • 8 Jan 2012
    Why I'm helping to block a road

    Ekklesia associate director Symon Hill is planning to join in nonviolent direct action by blocking a central London road in protest against reckless driving and the policies of central and local government. In this article, he explains why.

  • 28 Nov 2011
    The UK's Department for Dodgy Deals

    The UK government is demanding payment from Egypt for money loaned to Mubarak to help him to buy weapons. The money is claimed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), a secretive unit of Vince Cable's Department for Business. It has a habit of backing arms deals and fossil fuels and creating unjust debt.

  • 28 Oct 2011
    Would Jesus kick protesters off St Paul's ground?

    Where would Jesus be in in the current situation involving St Paul's Cathedral and the Occupy London movement? Symon Hill asks: Would he be camping outside in this freezing weather, speaking out against inequality, or inside the religious building, worrying about the revenue from tourists?

  • 27 Sep 2011
    The Labour Party and the arms trade

    This week, I spoke about the arms trade at a fringe meeting at the Labour Party annual conference. I urged the Labour Party to move away from the enthusiasm for the arms trade that it has shown in the past and take a stand against the influence of arms companies within government.

  • 20 Sep 2011
    Lessons from my walk of repentance

    This summer, I walked from Birmingham to London as a pilgrimage of repentance for my former homophobia. I feel like I'm only just beginning to understand what I learnt on the walk. Here I reflect on the experience and on the lessons I learnt.

  • 20 Aug 2011
    A mansion tax and the realities of class

    Britain may be broke, but the government's desperation to cut the deficit seems to have its limits. This morning, Eric Pickles has ruled out an increase in council tax for houses valued at more than £1million. He is portraying measures that would affect only the richest as an attack on the "middle class". In reality, the government is consistent in pursuing the interests of the very wealthy at the expense of the rest of us.

  • 12 Aug 2011
    Rich thugs, poor thugs

    Right-wing columnists are having a field day in the wake of the riots, demonising single parents, benefit recipients and working class people generally. To be consistent in condemning looting, we should criticise not only the rioters but the wealthy bankers and politicians who are looting our society.

  • 19 Jul 2011
    Post-pilgrimage thoughts

    It's just over two weeks since I finished my pilgrimage of repentance for homophobia. In many ways, I'm only just beginning to realise how the pilgrimage has affected me. It's taught me a lot about prayer and hospitality, and developed my thoughts on the way that change happens in Church and society. Now I have a lot more questions.

  • 15 Jun 2011
    Why I'm walking

    In 1997, I described opposition to same-sex relationships as being a matter of "God's opinion", rather than my own. This week, I will begin a walk of 160 miles from Birmingham to London as a pilgrimage of repentance for my former homophobia. As I prepare to begin walking tomorrow, this article explains what led me to do this.

  • 8 Jun 2011
    Britain's young people - sexualised, radicalised or patronised?

    Concerns about young people have made the news this week. There are fears of "sexualisation" and "radicalisation". Both words imply that young people cannot make choices themselves, but only passively accept what is imposed on them. And they distract attention from the policies of a government which is set to wreck the opportunities of countless young people.

  • 18 May 2011
    Christianity and homophobia in Britain today

    To tackle homophobia, we need to understand it. Recent years have seen a backlash against LGBT rights in the UK. This is partly because changing views on sexuality have become a focus for people alarmed by the declining status of what they regard as Christian morality. But it's not a morality that has much in common with the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus.

  • 17 Apr 2011
    Quakers, ethics and capitalism

    Quakers take pride in the history of nineteenth-century Quaker employers, many known for their progressive thinking. Some have suggested that they can now be a model for us in developing a form of "ethical capitalism". But the most forward-thinking nineteenth century Quakers called not for philanthropy but for fundamental change to the economic system. Their example can inspire us to reject capitalism altogether and to seek alternatives.

  • 5 Apr 2011
    Quakers are boycotting Israeli settlement goods. Now for the lies and abuse

    British Quakers have announced that they are calling for a boycott of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This is a brave decision, given the volume of abuse, hate mail and downright lies that faced the Methodist Church when they made a similar decision. With this in mind, there are important points that must be remembered about the Quakers' position.