How good are we at including those who are different from us?
Here’s a speech given by Thomas Clarkson in Ipswich in 1840.
"Perhaps many of you here are not acquainted with the subject of slavery. I will therefore explain to you what it is. First, let us imagine a child to have been born of Slave - Parents. Poor unfortunate child! From that very Day his Birthday he is considered and classed as a Brute. From that very Day he becomes Property, the Property of a Master, who may sell him, and do with him what he pleases.
Let us now look at him as a grown up Man at his Labour in the Field. He works there, but he is not paid for his Labour. He works there, but not freely and willingly, as our labourers do, but he is followed by a driver, whose whip leaves the marks of its severity on his back during the remainder of his life, but if he is found to be what is brutally called sulky or obstinate, there is yet in store for him - the Chain - the Iron Neck - Collar with its frightful spikes - the Dungeon - and other modes of punishment. But let us now look at him in another Situation.
Weary of his Life he flies from Oppression and he runs away from the Estate; but he is almost sure of being brought back and returned to an enraged master; and have who can imagine, but they, who live in Slave Countries, what further Punishment awaits him. Perhaps he dies in consequence of the Cruelties then inflicted upon him; But the Murderer escapes. The Matter is hushed up. Who on the Estate dares to reveal it?
………Perhaps a Slave has a Wife and Family. So much the worse; for He may be sold at any moment to go to a Plantation perhaps a hundred Miles off, never to see them more. The Wife may be severed from her Husband and Children in like Manner, and the Children may be severed from their Parents, one after another, or all together, as it suits the Purchaser. This is not an ideal Case, but a case of every Days' Occurrence. These are some of the Evils which you are called upon this Night to try to put an End to.
I do not doubt your Humanity. I do not doubt your Willingness to pity and befriend the oppressed at home, and can you overlook this monstrous oppression, these monstrous Outrages upon human Nature, which have been brought before you, because they take place in a foreign Land. Christianity, true Christianity, does not confine her Sympathy to Country or Colour, but feels for all who are persecuted wherever they may live.”
I wonder whether we have learnt very much since 1840. Yes, slavery has been abolished but people are still trafficked and used as a commodity rather than a child of God with dignity and worth.
We are hopeless at including people who society perceives as “different”. We belong to a church that says we have to live with “contradictory convictions” but I know there are some who find that impossible believing passionately in what they believe. We see it not only in sexual orientation but in race still, in ageism, in political viewpoint, in disability discrimInation, in denomination, in is the EU good or evil, in where we live... (I’ve discovered Outwell and Upwell! They are on the same road and that’s about it!) We even see it in lifestyle choices. My wife rings ahead to ask if restaurants and pubs do vegan food. Sometimes it’s like she has some disease! We see it in tolerating noisy children. I’m sitting in a St Leonards on Sea hotel writing this, a child is screaming. A well heeled lady has just said loudly “why don’t they take that f***ing child to bed?” President Trump condemns the latest shootings in America, but fails to realise his “send them back” rhetoric is inciting extremism.
It seems to me that the work of Christianity as the 21st century progresses is to work hard on including everyone. There are people on the edge who yearn for inclusion. It’s almost as bad as being derided as a nobody as a slave that Clarkson spent his life trying to irradiate. How good are we at making people welcome? What’s your church notice board like? Do you speak to people who walk in off the street or have you forgotten that people might walk in??
Last Sunday, we went to evening service at St Giles Church in Tydd St Giles. St Giles is the patron saint of refugees and people on the boundaries. It’s fitting that his church at Tydd St Giles is on the boundary of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire and the church is on the edge of the Diocese of Ely, it’s furthest north. We were warmly welcomed as strangers joining the worship, and afterwards, we went to a fun quiz in the pub run each month in aid of the church. We played with two lay readers, who told us that people who don’t go to church mix with people who do, and it’s broken down barriers in an informal way. This is an excellent way to include everyone and we will return.
It’s so hard to be “outside” and “on the edge” - I’ve been there this past year away from what I know and value. We don’t do long term illness, or mental anguish, or anything that challenges what we are comfortable with. But people “outside” and “on the edge” need to know they matter no matter what they are facing or who they are. In a society which is in many ways as bad as Clarkson’s day, we need a new commitment to work for justice, dignity and respect for all. Where the Church is growing, it has found new life in inclusion, where it is dying (fast) it expects people to come to what is dated, and laments why people aren’t coming because it isn’t investing in community.
Are all really included? Madly, we are about to take in two more rescue cats. Lis has another one: an abbasynian, and I’m using some of mums estate to have a little black cat of my own. Will Meena and Jasper and Dru and Rupert (who can bully) accept Alice and Velvet? Sweet Velvet. She’s so cute! There may be spitting, but we hope they will all settle down in their diversity and form community. We shall see!!
I was horrified to see this flyer in the hotel foyer. Can you imagine what a fundamental, evangelical, non politically correct, no messing church says? I don’t think the Jesus I know will be there.
Jesus lived on the edge. He went to people others wouldn’t touch: a blind man, a woman with unthinkable disease, lepers, a woman of another race. He chose unlikely characters for his team. He worked in the world, not raising funds to keep a building open for four people, which seems to be the lot of many places in today’s church. Surely where we are struggling there are other ways to do it? Sharing community resources has to be at least investigated.
I’ve spent a lovely afternoon with my lovely former ecumenical colleagues in Rye. We proved over seven years that working together can work! We learnt to respect our differences but develop a huge trust. David, the Rector wrote this to me:
“We are both so sorry that your time here has come to an end. The three of us made a good team, and the level of friendship and trust between us is something I will always treasure.”
I think our call in 21st century Britain where some politicians don’t give a damn, and the DWP treats people like they are less than human, and we stand up for our rights at the expense of others, is to be radical. What would Jesus do today? He’d be where we would rather not be. And there’s the challenge. I see social deprivation in Wisbech today. Can I be as vocal as Thomas Clarkson as a Christian today or will I, as an easy option, retreat and then wonder why planet church is failing?
I can do no better to remind us of our task than blog again the fab Shane Claiborne:
A few years ago I remember a pastor friend telling me they tried something a little different for their Christmas services. Instead of the usual holiday décor and clutter of the sanctuary, they brought in a bunch of manure and hay and scattered it under the pews so the place would really smell like the stank manger where it all began. I laughed hysterically as he described everyone coming in, in all their best Christmas attire, only to sit in the rank smell of a barn.
They even brought a donkey in during the opening of the service that dropped a special gift as it moseyed down the aisle. Folks looked awkwardly at each other. Some were offended, some snickered, and some left. But for those who stayed… it was something like they’d never seen before. It was one of the most memorable services they’ve ever had.
They were reminded of the real meaning of Christmas — God entered the crap.
Are we prepared to be on the edge and deal with the crap? It’s the only way the church we try to keep going can be credible.
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