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Christians on the Left

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Christians on the Left
Formation1960; 64 years ago (1960)
Merger of
  • Socialist Christian League
  • Society of Socialist Clergy and Ministers
TypeSocialist society
Location
  • United Kingdom
Chair
Jonathan Reynolds
Director
Hannah Rich
Affiliations
Websitechristiansontheleft.org.uk Edit this at Wikidata
Formerly called
Christian Socialist Movement

Christians on the Left, formerly known as the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), is a socialist society in the UK. The movement fulfils a need among Christian socialists for an organisation that would be both politically engaged and theologically reflective. Christians on the Left is a member organisation of the International League of Religious Socialists. Members have included Labour leaders John Smith, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, R. H. Tawney, and Donald Soper. Today, Christians on the Left has over 40 members in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.[1]

As of October 2022, its director is Hannah Rich and its executive committee chair is Jonathan Reynolds.[2]

History

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The Christian Socialist Movement was founded in 1960 when the Society of Socialist Clergy and Ministers and the Socialist Christian League merged. R. H. Tawney made one of his last public appearances at the movement's inaugural meeting on 22 January 1960. Donald Soper chaired the movement until becoming its President in 1975. In 1998, it affiliated to the Labour Party. It was a volunteer organisation until 1994 when it appointed a co-ordinator, followed by an administrator. In August 2013, it announced that, following a consultation with its members, it would be changing its name to Christians on the Left.[3]

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References

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  1. ^ "Labour Party Affiliation". Christian Socialist Movement website. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  2. ^ "Meet the Team". Christians on the Left website. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  3. ^ CSM to become Christians On The Left
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