Community Transformation, Social Action, and the Church
Kate Sharma of Cinnamon Network explains why the Church is more than equipped to respond to our nation’s social challenges and transform communities
About mid-January, my local council sent me an email requesting my assistance in balancing their budget! I felt flattered. Briefly. Until I realised it was a circular mailing to anyone paying council tax in the town.
With a slightly bruised ego, I clicked on the email anyway. It was then that things got really depressing. The email read: ‘Where would you like to reduce spending: environmental policies, waste collection, community groups, children’s services, mental health, or well-being?’ Hmm, let me think… NONE.
Like others across the country, my local council is facing a budget deficit of nearly £500,000. In fact, the Local Government Association estimates that local authorities in England face a funding gap of £4bn over the next two years. This means key services are likely to be cut.
There are clearly cracks – or rather, great colossal chasms – in policy that need fixing. But as we stare at the hole, the boat is filling up with water. Fast.
This is where the Church comes in.
Now, come with me for a moment to a spot near Bethsaida, close to the Sea of Galilee. It was here some 2,000 years ago that Jesus was faced with a similarly impossible budget deficit – or rather a lunch deficit. Five thousand people had gathered to hear Jesus speak, and the disciples were challenged with feeding them.
What strikes me about this incident is that Jesus doesn’t ask the disciples: “How much food do you need?” He simply says: “How many loaves do you have?” (Mark 6:38). I think there is wisdom here, as we look to be salt and light in our communities during these challenging times.
Focusing on the huge problems can be dizzying to the point of paralysis. None of us has a spare £4bn for the collection plate, so let’s ask ourselves: “What gifts, resources, connections and knowledge do we have?”
What have you got?
At the beginning of the year, I spent a wonderful three days with 11 remarkable individuals who have all founded small social action projects to help churches respond to issues such as mental health, domestic violence, and relationship breakdown. These were people who had seen a problem in their community and responded by turning the passion, knowledge and connections they had into action.
Through Cinnamon’s two-year Incubator Programme, they were learning skills and gaining contacts to grow and replicate their work. And while they were individually exceptional, none of them were lone wolves. They were all grounded in the local church network, which I think is particularly powerful.
Following the general election on July 4, we know that policies and priorities will change. What doesn’t change is God. Our churches will remain fixtures in our communities with an ear to the ground, a heart for the people, and the hands of Jesus to take action.
Churches are culturally relevant
As churches, we get the cultural nuances of our communities that other organisations don’t. A great example of this is the Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) by Food For Purpose, the winner of Cinnamon’s Incubator competition in 2018. The HCI was set up by Shola Oladipo, a dietitian with more than 25 years’ experience.
As she overheard her NHS colleagues discussing how to reach Black communities, Shola knew that the Church was the key. Through her work, Shola and her team liaise with public health bodies, local authorities, and churches, translating key health messages into culturally relevant, practical actions that improve health and well-being.
Adeola Ogunade, from Hope4All Housing Surgery, is another pioneer. In her role as Chartered Housing Practitioner, she’d seen too many people lose their homes simply because they didn’t know their rights. So, Adeola took what she had, which was her knowledge of the housing arena, gathered support from volunteers in her church and community, and created a solution.
Hope4All Housing Surgery now trains other churches to provide free support on housing to prevent people from reaching crisis point. Adeola speaks incredible truth when she says: “The application of knowledge is power.”
My question for you…
So, what loaves and fishes do you have? You might be a Christian with industry expertise; a church leader with premises; or someone with lived experience.
Do explore ways you can turn your experience into action and provide much-needed services and support for your community.
