Amos

The Social Responsibility Group of Christians Together in Jersey

"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"

What Does Amos Do?

One early action was to propose the formation of the CTJ Housing Trust. This was supported by a CTJ Autumn Forum and registered in the Royal Court on January 19th 1996. It has taken time to become established but now has over 120 properties to rent for social housing. It means that we have direct contact with Jersey people struggling to find affordable accommodation, which makes us aware of the injustice that still exists in Housing and to work with the Housing Minister to bring about changes.

Jersey's place in the world of international finance is the concern of Christian Aid, another part of CTJ. However there has been plenty to comment on about Jersey's fiscal strategy, following a report by a group headed by Colin Powell. We pressed for years for interest tax relief to be confined to the person's main residence. It has just happened. We welcome the ITIS tax system so that all who work here contribute to common services. We also look forward to the migration policy becoming law so that very unfair distinction between qualified and unqualified housing for rent is ended. The slogan `If you are good enough to work here, you are good enough to live here' is sound.

The CTJ Forum passed a resolution calling for a minimum wage in 1996. It happened in 2006, though at a low level. Other employment legislation is slowly coming into place. It is not `more red tape' as portrayed by some, but the essential fabric of a just society. The law sets out society's expectations and will hopefully only rarely need to be used but it needs to be there. Similarly, we still need proper consumer protection legislation and an ombudsman to investigate complaints about local finance institutions.

We are very supportive of the move to a low income support system, bringing together a variety of benefits such as rent rebate, welfare, disability allowance and children's allowance into a one-stop assessment of personal or family needs. The system began on Jan 28th, 2008 and the details are crucial of how it works out need careful watching.

Alcohol is Jersey's main drug problem and we are glad the States have agreed an alcohol strategy and we are monitoring its development. In January 2006, we circulated to all the new and old States members a booklet on alcohol, first published in the Epworth Review. Among other things it rated price as the most effective means of reducing harm. We are glad that an alcohol support worker is now employed at the hospital to gather accurate statistics and to try to help those who have an alcohol problem. We are also glad that police and the alcohol industry are working together to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.

We have been invited to take part in the 'New directions' initiative looking at options for the future of the health service in Jersey with many difficult choices to be made on the best use of finite resources. We are also able to take up the individual medical experiences of people where appropriate, expressing our concerns to Mike Pollard, the chief executive, with whom we have a fruitful dialogue.

We have pressed for proper investment in rehabilitation at the prison. At the moment our prison has had a very poor inspection report, but at long last there seem to be moves to bring proper investment in making prison a place of rehabilitation as well as confinement.

We would like a fairer provision in early year's childcare and nursery. Some parents get free places while others pay large fees for their children's places. This is still not yet in place.

We have looked at other issues. The above gives a flavour of what we do.

On some issues, there is not a single Christian view. Methodists are strongly against a casino in Jersey, while others are relaxed about it. Catholics have a firm view on abortion while others accept that sadly, in some circumstances, defined by the present law, it may be the least bad option for a woman. There are a variety of responses to the new civil laws on same sex relationships. However we listen to each other and accept there are differences. We unite on calls for justice, which is the main focus of Amos.

Our normal meeting time is from 5.45 to 6.45 on the first Wednesday of the month at the Pastoral Centre, St. Thomas Church. Minutes are circulated, mainly by e-mail, to heads of all the churches and to anyone else interested. We welcome new members. We aim to be critical friends of our States members, who have the weighty responsibility to serve the people of Jersey and we sent each States member a Christmas card in December 2007.

Ed Le Quesne February 2008