Transformation

Is it becoming more difficult to be open about faith in secular places of work? Would employers rather people kept quiet? Adrian Miles of Transform Work UK tells a different story

In recent months there have been many references in the media to the difficulties some Christians experience when bringing their faith into the workplace. Airline employee Nadia Eweida was asked to stop wearing a cross. Nurse Caroline Petrie was disciplined for offering to pray for a patient. These instances should concern Christians everywhere, but they do not portray the full picture. Indeed, the experience of Transform Work UK (TWUK), a small, charitable, Christian organisation, is that there are many examples of Christian Workplace Groups (CWGs) growing and thriving in a wide range of work situations, with support and encouragement from their employers.

TWUK’s mission statement is ‘Inspiring Christians to transform the workplace and the nation’. We believe that Christians can have a hugely beneficial impact upon colleagues, employers, customers and the organisation as a whole. One of the issues we sometimes encounter is a reluctance by some Christians to see the workplace as an integral part of God’s Kingdom; some consider work and faith to be separate. TWUK takes the view that there should be no sacred/secular divide and that if God has called us to be in a particular workplace, then he also calls us to share our faith while we’re there.

TWUK has around 130 CWGs associated with it, including the Financial Services Authority, Christians in Government UK, Christians in the Audit Commission and the London Councils Christian Network. Some groups are small with just a few people involved; others consist of large networks such as the British Telecom (BT) Christian Network, with around 1,100 members. In addition there is a wide range of professional groups such as the Association of Christian Teachers, the Christian Firefighters, the Veterinary Christian Fellowship and Christians in Sport. Our experience at TWUK, contrary to some views, is that Christian groups are alive and well and flourishing in many places of work.

Making connections

One of the issues that concerns both individuals and small groups is how to make contact with other Christians in the workplace. Experience suggests that wearing a symbol such as a cross or a fish helps, but there are other creative ways. One of our contacts, Karen, told us about her experience after moving into a new office: ‘For Christmas my sister-in-law gave me a mug with the word ‘Faith’ in big letters and the text underneath reads, ‘For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength, Philippians 4 v13’. Moving to the new office has shown me a new reason to use it. It’s a great way to tell others what I believe. Last week someone offered to make me a brew and I handed over my mug without even thinking. On his return he passed me my tea asking, “Do you believe it?” I said, “Yes, it’s true!” “Great to have met a sister in Christ” was his response!’

Another innovative approach to contacting other Christians in the workplace has been initiated by Alex, a second officer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. He has started a group on the social networking website Facebook entitled ‘Seafaring Christians’. Alex says: ‘I felt it might be a way of helping Christians who are at sea to connect and meet up with other Christians, something that is always beneficial in the remote and lonely environment in which we work.’

Meeting together

Once contact has been made with other Christians, our experience is that managers usually respond positively to requests for facilities, such as a room to meet in. It is important to ensure that managers are fully involved in the development of Christian groups in the workplace and are fully consulted and informed about what activities the groups are engaged in.

Reaching wider

Many CWGs quickly move from meeting together to holding events that attract a wider audience. David Neate of the The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) describes what his group did recently for the organisation’s national Learning at Work Day: ‘We wondered about doing an Alpha taster session, but in the end decided to do a Christian version of the TV discussion show Question Time. Among those attending was a colleague wanting to know about Christianity and another who had drifted away from God but was now looking for a local church. We were able to help that process.’

Christians in Government have held carol services and this year will be holding a Whitehall Easter service in Westminster Chapel. Christians in the Audit Commission (CiTAC) have distributed coasters and mugs in offices. Other groups have organised mince pie events at Christmas and hot cross buns at Easter to raise the profile of the Christian message. The BT Christian Network has given away over 700 bibles to staff who have requested them through the company intranet.

Official recognition

Many CWGs are actively sharing their faith at work. Some, however, have gone a stage further and have obtained official recognition as a staff network under the umbrella of the organisation’s diversity strategy. This has been a positive experience for a number of groups and enables a much deeper involvement in the overall development and ethos of the organisation. Organisations such as BT and the Audit Commission view their Christian groups, along with other network groups, as assets to the organisation and involve them in consultation and development of diversity policies.

An increasing number of organisations recognise that encouraging staff network groups, including Christians, makes good business sense, because if employees are able to bring to work all their attributes and skills and feel free to express these in a positive way, then they make better employees and the whole organisation benefits. CWGs come in all shapes and sizes and are growing in numbers day by day as employers see the benefits that these groups can bring. The workplace represents a wonderful opportunity to bring Christian values into the life of the organisation.

God is present in the workplace! The way in which opportunities for CWGs are developing is exciting. We should never be surprised at the doors God will open for us if we give them a little push and we can be assured that he is with us in our workplaces, which are an integral part of his Kingdom on earth!