A call for prophetic ministry from our church leaders

Dear friends - and Christian leaders

I am very concerned about the, so far, 13 years of massive expenditure on High Scam 2, the 150 miles of immoral "bus on rails" Metro tram extensions for the W Midlands and the prestigious Sprint - "the bus that thinks it's a tram".  This is on top of borrowing money to splash out on tax cuts at a time of rising inflation, rising interest rates, rising armaments expenditure going from 2% to 3% of national income, plus ongoing funding of the Ukraine War that is threatening a low-powered nuclear exchange.  The final insult and idiocy is that we now have a national, self-inflicted, financial crisis to nicely cap all the others!

High Scam 2, Metro, Sprint are all greedy, selfish, wealth flaunting, vanity projects that make the multiple crises worse and divert resources away from the poor and "the stranger in our midst", who should be our top priority, not flash, unnecessary transport projects to, supposedly, entice motorists out of their cars and relieve congestion/pollution.

Food banks are as necessary as ever and now the churches may have to open their smaller, more energy efficient buildings this winter to become warm shelters for the local community as the energy crisis deepens.  Your Amos-like prophetic role is as essential as ever.  I would like to see our top church leaders joining me in speaking out.  E-mail addresses are in the attachment, below.  I wrote this to Joy last night:

"For me, the well over half a billion pound, 10.7 Kms Dudley Tram on a ready built, 120 Kms principal mainline railway is immoral and stupid expenditure.  Especially, when there are so many people in great need who should have the hundreds of millions going into trams, so they can have homes at High Plateau and Daniels Land, Merry Hill.  It is something that I have to speak up about and condemn.  It is part of my discipleship and commitment to the Way of Jesus Christ.  I would like every West Midlands Christian leader/cleric/Bishop to see it as part of their prophetic ministry.  David M spoke about Amos last Sunday in our church service and rooted it in what had occurred two days previously, 23 Sept.  Amos had the right idea!  Another one of my heroes!

Best wishes