Diocesan Synod has backed two motions born of the Christian imperative to support poor and disadvantaged people.
Both motions will now go for debate by General Synod and were brought to Ashville College, Harrogate, on Saturday by the Inner Bradford Deanery (pictured left).
The first was proposed by John Wright and questioned how Anglicans might better follow Jesus' deeds and words when engaging with the poor:
"That this Diocesan Synod call on the Archbishop's Council to commission a study that explores (a) the reasons why, in contrast to Jesus, the Church of England is generally less effective in communicating with, and attracting people from, more disadvantaged communities and (b) ways of addressing and reversing this situation."
In a presentation to support the motion, Angus McNab, outreach co-ordinator at St Peter's, Shipley, told how increased poverty meant he was "scared for the future of my children. "Scared, because I see the fracture lines in our country's wealth."
He called for a new conversations and actions to further "compassion, community and the common good."
Revd Andrew Dixon of Armley Deanery told how there was 30 per cent male unemployment in some localities under his ministry and that poverty was a barrier for some who wish to enter lay ministry.
He said a woman parishoner who wanted to become a lay reader had "packed it in" after a year as she could not afford the time to complete the full three year course.
"A university standard is now required and the bar is far too high. I fully support this motion," he said.
Revd Brunel James, from the Birstall deanery, called for easier learning pathways for the laity as, in his view, it was usually only "the more respectable people in the community" who could afford to give time to the church.
"What we often fail to grasp is that church membership is a leisure activity," he said.
Whilst the motion came from Inner Bradford, it was also noted that rural poverty was an equally serious problem to be considered in any debate by General Synod.
The second motion was also proposed by John Wright and focused on financial inequality:
"That this Diocesan Synod call upon the General Synod to debate a motion in the following form:
"That this Synod call on Her Majesty's Government (and all political parties) to adopt an explicit policy of reducing the wealth gap between the rich and the poor and the disadvantages that flow from it."
Revd Canon Kathryn Fitzsimmons (pictured right) spoke for the motion by comparing her experiences in schools from economically contrasting areas of Leeds: "I want the kids from Gipton to have the same opportunities for Loving, Living, Learning as the kids in Oakwood," she said.
However Tim Slater of the Huddersfield Deanery expressed doubts.
"I feel uneasy about it - it's bad theology." He said that attempts to achieve such changes should be made through conventional political process.
Archdeacon of Leeds EA Paul Ayers welcomed both the motions, but said it was important not to alientate the middle class during debates on poverty: "We should stop being so squeamish about wealth and shouldn't always grumble about the middle class.
Citing members of his own family as examples he said: "The middleclass are key members of our churches - these are the people who make things work."
Val Smith of South Craven and Wharfedale Deanery said that she lives in Ilkley, but always shops in Keighley - where she said poverty was very evident.
"A walk around Keighley tells me what it's all about and our church does not agree with the way the divide is getting wider."
She said many politicians were Christians and should be lobbied on the issue of the wealth gap: "The Prime Minister, Theresa May, is a Christian and we need to remind them about this."
Revd Canon Arani Sen from Armley (pictured below with diocesan environment officer Jemima Parker) added: "I'd like to support this motion as we are called to be prophetic. The whole foundation of society is broken if there is poverty."
The first motion was passed by a majority with three abstentions and the second motion passed with one against and one abstention.
