Archbishop of Canterbury -Close the gap between neighbours

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has urged people to do what they can to close the gaps between themselves and their neighbours. Dr Williams was speaking in his New Year message, filmed partly at the 999 Club, a drop-in centre in Deptford in South East London.

Places like the 999 Club, he said, pointed to what everyone could do in the face of human suffering

those who work here will tell you that the point isn't to solve the problems but chiefly to say to everyone who comes through the door that they don't have to face them alone. They're trying to close the gap that so readily opens up between people. They have realised that at times the most we can do for each other is to say 'I can't promise to keep you safe, but I'll do all I can to make sure that there's someone with you in the worst moments.

The Christmas message is not that God solves all our problems at a single stroke, but that, through Jesus, he is completely alongside us and has enough resources to see us through whatever happens.

Dr Williams said the major disasters and tragedies of 2005 had underlined the fact that human suffering affects everyone.

The Bible reminds us that when one part of a body is in pain its the whole person who feels it. When you have a toothache, it isn't the tooth that feels the misery, its you. If anyone is living less than a proper human life, we're all poorer for it. We're all involved already, like it or not.

But, he said, trying to solve the large problems shouldn't stop the little things being done:

We still have to look for the big solutions, the long-term aid and support, the problem-solving plans, but let's start with what anyone can do, anywhere, never mind the success: simply act and speak as if people were worth taking seriously.

ENDS

Note for editors: The Archbishop's New Year Message will be broadcast on BBC 2 this evening (Sat 31st) at 1955hrs and again tomorrow (Sun 1st) on BBC 1 at 1310hrs.