2nd opinion: Your neighbourhood needs you

Most of us, at some time or another, have played the neighbourhood card – argued a case, or supported a bid, by reference to how good we are at contributing to the well-being and sustainability of the neighbourhood in which we work.

It's nothing to be ashamed of, and if we commit ourselves to the agenda being set out in the National Housing Federation's rebranding campaign, "Housing's Better Future", we'll being doing it even more in the years to come. But in the next few weeks, or months, we may be heading for the strongest test yet of whether our rhetoric has any substantial content: What are going to do if there is a war?

For years, the housing sector has created and implemented policies to express our commitment to a multicultural, multi-ethnic society. That commitment can't simply be something to which we adhere only when the going is good.

If there ever really existed an era when the people of Britain would rally unswervingly behind the Union Jack in a time of conflict, it has certainly long passed; nor can we pretend, in this third millennium, that it is possible to fight a controversial war thousands of miles away without a serious impact in our own communities. War with Iraq will put considerable strains on community cohesion in the UK and the focus will be the very places where housing association stock is most concentrated.

What will you do? If our reply at this point is along the lines of "nothing to do with me, guv, I'm just the landlord", then we might as well tear up all those fine words about being significant stakeholders and players in our neighbourhoods, and tell government, local authorities and others to look elsewhere for partners in future.

War with Iraq will put considerable strain on community cohesion in the UK and we must make preparations

We have already seen the TV pictures of ships and personnel heading towards the Gulf, or taking part in training exercises in order to be ready for an outbreak of conflict. Similarly, if we are going to do more than shrug our shoulders in response, we have no time to delay in making our own preparations. Can we identify the potential flashpoints? Are our front-line staff known to, and well thought-of by, community leaders? Do our tenant participation systems provide space where groups with different loyalties can come together and build mutual understanding and trust? Are our residents being intimidated by extremists, from whatever end of the spectrum?

My fellow bishops and I have made repeatedly clear to government our own strong reservations about a war. But that won't exonerate us from having to deal with the consequences back home in our dioceses. There is no opt-out clause from the consequences of political decisions on the basis that you didn't support it.

I do believe that many of our housing associations have the right sort of connections in their neighbourhoods that will allow us to be a force for good in the event of a war. But if we don't realise what we have and get it ready for use, it won't be there when we need it.