Brexit - The Third Dimension

One word that can be used to describe different aspects of the same thing is ‘dimension’. Moving from a two dimensional view to a three dimensional one greatly increases our perception. A different word is ‘phase’, yet that separates the different aspects into a sequence in time. When we talk about Brexit, we are very much aware of the sequence of the two phases. First we must negotiate our divorce settlement with Europe, then we can move onto the second phase, which is the trade deal we aspire to achieve with the European Community. It was not the way we wanted to play things. At the outset we had hoped that these two dimensions to our negotiations would be part of the same negotiation, but the Europeans insisted that these two dimensions would in fact be phases. Phase two could only start when the first phase had either been completed, or at least had reached an acceptable stage of completion. I want to suggest that we should think three dimensionally, which is to say that there is a third dimension to this business, one which seems to have been largely ignored until now. I use the word ‘dimension’, because if the first two elements have been separated into phases, this third element is not a phase. It should have been apparent from that outset.

My third dimension is leadership. As someone who has been a parish priest for over three decades, I know something about leadership. To lead a church congregation is to draw together a varied group of people, who may well have deeply divergent views on different subjects. Both the ordination of women and society’s acceptance of same-sex relationships are issues which have divided opinion between Christians. Providing leadership in a church congregation involves listening to people, valuing people and drawing them into a shared future direction which has its basis, not these divisive issues, but the welcoming and proclaiming of the kingdom of God. A church which can be drawn into one (despite such differences) is a church which comes alive with creative possibilities and a buzz of excitement about the future. Seeking to provide such leadership as this has been my aspiration throughout my ministry.

I don’t know much about the political mechanics of leaving the EU or the intricacies of forging a new trade deal with the EU and the wider world. However I do know something about leadership and it is painfully obvious that such leadership is almost completely lacking in our present time. There is nothing controversial in saying this. Our Government seems to be deeply divided and our nation at odds with one another in a way that sharply contrasts with the exuberant days of pride in our country that was seen in the London Olympics of 2012. I do believe that Brexit is like driving off a tall cliff and there are some very sharp rocks below. To deny this is to live in a fantasy world. It is like a tight-rope walker setting off on a rope that is strung across a deep canyon. She achieves this, not by denying the dangers that lie beneath her, but in conquering that fear with a confidence that she has the skills to achieve this feat. Knowledge of what befalls her, if she slips, is a key element in focusing her mind on the task before her. Knowing that Brexit could cripple both our economy and our society is not ‘Project Fear’, but a realism that how we exit the EU and build a new future has to be got right. And it is here, I suggest, that leadership is so important. Driving off the cliff, in the belief that there will lots of wonderful opportunities before us, is utter foolishness. There is a difference between saying that there are opportunities and having the skill to grasp those opportunities. The leadership that we need is one which can enshrine those opportunities in a united vision for the future so that, as a nation, we are drawn together in our desire to drive off the cliff, recognizing the risks, but confident that we can indeed fly. Recently they were interviewing people about Brexit and one man said that he just wanted to get out of the EU so that our country can go back to what it once was. That will never happen. We cannot regain an imagined past. What we need is inspiring, visionary leadership that can draw us together in a journey towards what we can be. It needs to build community, heal division, reform society, bind us together in renewed engagement in the world and create a common sense of purpose. This is the third element in the Brexit process. It is something which seems sadly lacking, yet it is the key to creating a new future in which we will all flourish.