Church as minority
Whether we like it or not, the Christian church is no longer a central part of most people’s lives and is now a ‘minority group’ in Australian society. That means we are at risk of doing what minority groups do – building enclaves to preserve our language, culture, music and beliefs. It’s the same process for migrants in a new country and it is important in that context especially where people have migrated out of ‘necessity’ for example as refugees. Maintaining culture in those settings is vital as culture is an essential part of identity, an identity which may have been oppressed or resulted in victimisation presenting the need to migrate or seek asylum in the first place.
It is normally the second generation migrants who as young people, begin to venture out into the ‘mainstream’ society and find themselves developing a ‘mosaic’ identity with components from the old and the new. This is where conflict begins to develop between them and their elders as they begin to talk and act in way their parents are unable to relate to.
Tony Floyd, Director of Multi-cultural Ministry with the Uniting Church talked about this in his recent visit to Adelaide. Tony indicated that it is second generation young people who are suggesting a new paradigm for multi-cultural ministry. One which has an awareness of the multiple factors which go into forming identity and begins with the common element identified in many faiths and cultures, that of Spirit. While we may have been accustomed to starting our conversations with Christ as the centre, this new paradigm suggests that we begin with Spirit as a way of building connection and shared identity with others.
So how does this relate to the church as a minority in society? Well for starters there’s the challenge to ourselves about the ‘enclaves’ we might be tempted to build. Yes maintaining culture is an important part of identity. The language, ritual, music which are part of our tradition, assist in forming our identity. But if we are going to engage with, walk beside and serve in a society where identity is plural, it will only be possible for us to ‘be Christ’ in that setting if we are open and accepting and inclusive of the other. If we go with a preparedness to learn, to listen and to be changed by our encounters, then I would suggest we have the opportunity to ‘be Christ’ wherever we go. But if we go thinking we have all the answers and that it is for us to convince others of that then we may as well stay in our enclaves.
Spirit, God, Christ. It reminds me of the ‘inclusion, control, acceptance’ model presented by David Augsburger from Fuller Theological College on his recent visit to Adelaide. Connect with others through Spirit, the ‘common’, inclusive element which may be expressed through art, a love for the outdoors, physical activity or time in community. Spirit – who some understand as the breath of God, who with that breath forms life. Life which matters and which has the capacity to act, to influence, to make a difference. That’s the ‘control’ part of the model, the part when we listen and encourage others to express their identity and their capacity for influencing the world around them. And then Christ, the one who showed that no matter what your identity is or what others say about you or what you do, you are loved and accepted for who you are.
