Tag: community organising

Faith Rooted Community Organising in Difficult Times

In the last few days, some of our communities have been impacted by violence, intimidation and unrest. I was back home in Northern Ireland last weekend, and aswe heard the news of what had taken place in Belfast city centre and beyond, my family and I all recognized the same awful sense of familiarity in…

August 7, 2024
Community Organising in Action: The Birmingham Mayoral Accountability Assembly.

On the 25th of April 2024, I had the profound opportunity to witness community organising at its finest during the Mayoral and Police & Crime Commissioner Accountability Assembly, orchestrated by Citizens UK Birmingham. Months of meticulous planning, rooted in listening…

May 31, 2024
A Community Organiser’s story: Interview with the Reverend Ian Rutherford.

The Reverend Ian Rutherford is part of the ministry team at Methodist Central Hall, Manchester. Ian has leadership roles in a wide range of social action and social justice initiatives, including being part of the leadership team for Greater Manchester Citizens, the Faith Sector Lead on Homelessness and Housing for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham,…

April 19, 2024
When two or three are gathered: Faith Rooted Community Organising and House Groups (Part 1)

So, you’ve reflected on your story, and, through careful listening, you’ve learned some more about the story of your church and the community in which it’s based. You’ve shared in one to ones and, hopefully, during those times of sharing, have discovered points of mutual connection…

February 2, 2024
Finding ourselves: through reflection and discernment – Part Two

Back in September, Kerry visited Kerala, India, to represent the Methodist church at the Christian Conference of Asia General Assembly. During that gathering I had the opportunity to meet Daya Bai, (born Mercy Mathew), a renowned community organiser and social justice activist who has spent her adult life working alongside people from some of the…

January 12, 2024
Finding ourselves: through reflection and discernment – Part One

All organising is deeply rooted in our ‘story of self’ or ‘self-interest.’ For Christians, these phrases can sometimes unsettle us. We may feel cautious about seemingly being asked to engage in self-centred ways of thinking and concerned that this means organising is potentially about being ego centric…

January 3, 2024
Out of the Ordinary?

As we approach the holiday season, the Methodist Church’s short film “Out of the Ordinary” offers a poignant reflection on the challenges and opportunities of community organizing in faith-based contexts. The film’s central character, a young woman struggling with financial difficulties, finds herself drawn into an empty church, seeking solace and connection. This encounter prompts…

December 8, 2023
From Personal Journeys to Collective Actions: The Power of Lived Experience in Driving Change

All community organising begins by inviting people to reflect on their own stories; the things which have shaped us and are important to us. As we share our stories, and listen to the stories of others, we find areas of common ground and shared desire for change. In community organising, this lived experience- the personal knowledge…

November 17, 2023
Faith Rooted Community Organising: Micro Practices

We recognise that for many leaders, lay or ordained; it can be difficult to discern how to begin introducing Faith Rooted Community Organising practices within their congregations. For some, this is because any change to a different way of working requires some space for practice and reflection before…

November 3, 2023
Guest blog: Alison Webster on ‘Collectives: our hope for the future’

One of the greatest joys of community organising is how it enables you to make connections with people who share a similar passion for utilising organising practices to transform church and community. Alison Webster, who is Mission Theologian in Residence for Citizens UK and…

November 2, 2023