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Certain principles inform our involvement in international affairs. Frequently we become involved in a particular situation at the request of local Christians there, and invariably we seek to discover the views of local Christians in any situation in which we become involved. These factors do not necessarily determine our attitudes but they are given very considerable weight.
We have particular concern for areas of the world which have been British spheres of influence in the past, either through imperial and colonial connections or missionary activity originating from Britain and Ireland. These of course are usually inextricably related.
We also have a particular concern for areas with which British and Irish churches are historically linked, for example the churches in the British Isles in the Reformed tradition with churches in the same tradition in Europe and especially Eastern Europe. Areas of the world affected by current government policy form a substantial part of our agenda in response to constant requests from our constituency and our ecumenical partners internationally for comment and advice and on occasion a representation of their interests.
Different aspects of such questions are initially handled by three main departments, Christian Aid, our development arm; the Conference for World Mission representing Roman Catholic and Protestant missionary agencies in Britain and Ireland and the Department of International Affairs with a specific remit to provide a Christian critique of British and Irish involvement in international affairs. Necessarily limited resources of staff, time and finance prevent any ambition to become comprehensive and require a disciplined selection of priorities. The Executive Committee and the Assembly normally make major policy decisions in consultation with the member churches on the basis of briefings from our working units.
In the light of the above you will not be surprised that we maintain an active interest in European developments, not least East/West relations and the particular impact of USSR policies on Eastern Europe; Southern Africa, with a particular concern for South Africa and the implications of its apartheid policies and Namibia as it moves towards. independence; the Middle East, with particular concern for the Israeli/Palestinian problem, together with the Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Iraq (the ancient Oriental Orthodox churches are members of the Council and are actively concerned in matters affecting these areas); China and Hongkong; and by the urgent request of Christians there Central and South America with a particular concern with Argentine/British relationships and the Falkland Islands. Thematic concerns for the implications of international
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