Theology.

yarn-bombed light posts in Cambridge

In doing some research recently, I ran across the phrase “Contextual Theology.”  In its own context, this phrase denotes a graduate degree program that a person filling our role (as Community Hosts) may have taken.  In the United Reformed Church (URC), there are what we call Church Related Community Workers (CRCWs…gotta love all those churchy acronyms!), whose work is in community development, but within a church placement.  In other words, the denomination pays a trained CRCW to be in a particular community, and work in the community, but with theology as the base of their work.

Which brings us back to Contextual Theology.  Not quite as messy as “purposefully living out one’s faith in the pursuit of community development, social justice, and peace,” which is what one might say who is doing this work.

During this first month of being introduced to our new community, there is occasionally a sense that we are floundering or flailing our limbs, trying to find some ground from which to take off from.  These are the frustrating days, of feeling like we’re not accomplishing anything. 

But we’re also acutely aware that we don’t want to be like some short term “missionaries” who swoop into a place, see something that may or may not need to be fixed, and then leave, not watching as what they constructed crumbles behind in their dust of exit.  Our work is meant to be sustaining and sustainable, and it takes awhile to learn one’s context.

But this phrase, contextual theology, has given me a place to jump off.  It makes sense to see what themes are reoccurring in this community, and then to grapple with what our faith calls us to do.  We are (somewhat) painfully aware that we may only be here for three years, and that affects our dreaming and scheming.  The previous CRCW was at our church here in Hackney for 10 years, and it makes sense to hear how many connections he made, the initiatives he started, etc. 

So, perhaps we will plod on for awhile, occasionally catching a glimpse of what being faithful in this place and time means.  This is my hope, for now.