Posts
Firstly, when I said I would add blogging to my daily routine I meant weekdays.
I thought that I would resume my blogging journey by looking at some of the building blocks of the framework that shapes my world view.
The first one I want to touch on is Community Development.
Community Development at its most basic is the process of allowing a community define its own goals and then work towards achieving those goals. Secular CD practitioners would suggest that it is the responsibility of the community to define the destination it aims to reach. They would hold to the fundamental ideals of equal access, democratic decision making and the sharing of resources.
Now I am happy with that definition and am quite happy to work towards that ideal, however I think that it isn't a complete understanding of community development. As a Christian I believe that the goal of community development is the kingdom of God. That is to say the ideals of God's kingdom being enacted in the here and now. I think that the ideals outlined by the secular community development practitioners are beginning points. Added to them I would suggest the following ideals:
- a commitment to eliminating poverty in all its forms
- community built upon shared interests and resources rather than self interest
- a commitment to diversity and learning from each other's viewpoint
I do not see Christian community development as relating exclusively to the Christian community. It is what Christians can bring to the table of our wider communities, recognising that it comes as one voice amongst many. However I believe that if we are able to articulate our vision and back it up with self sacrificing commitment then it will become an attractive vision for our communities.
What do you think?
