I was surprised when we got our first bit of election material. You see, when we moved into our house, we found out that we were going to be in the Perry Barr constituency. Two years later and we found that we were now in the Erdington Constituency. There had been a boundary change to make sure there were equal numbers in each electorate. It’s at that point, that you feel like you are just a number, that boundaries can be moved around you and that your area seems to lack a specific community identity.
Of course, this is continuously happening throughout history and on a global scale. The end of British Empire led to lines on the map that divided nations and communities. Think of Pakistan, India and the impact on Punjab. Back closer to home, a hundred years ago saw the beginning of large estates, often dropped on top of historic communities and names, often lacking communities and centres. I’ve mentioned before about how the M6 motorway cuts right through a community close to here. And I suspect that these things are more likely to happen if you live in poorer, more deprived areas.
Theresa May infamously talked about those who are citizens of anywhere really being citizens of nowhere. She was of course seeking to attack a perceived liberal society and those who wanted to remain in the EU. However, very often, the sense of not belonging anywhere, of lacking name and identity is imposed from on top.
It is so important that we are different to the world as churches, especially when we plant new churches into areas. The church can also fall into the trap of failing to recognise communities, people and identities.
Faithroots 