Table of Contents
Introduction
Why a book on “Ministry from a Position of Privilege” and why one by me?
Over the last 15 years I have become more and more aware of the wide range of privileged positions I have. In that time I have struggled over how to respond , a struggle that came to a head on my recent sabbatical. While on an 8 day silent retreat at St Beuno’s, in North Wales, I was forced to confront the reality that I was living with significant guilt over the privileges that I have. That guilt was principally playing out in two unhealthy ways. First, it was a barrier preventing me accepting God’s love for myself. Second, it was leading me to an unhealthy anger that was starting to overwhelm me.
Neither of these fit with a gospel of Good News. Neither help me in my personal journey of Christian Discipleship and neither of them are effective in challenging the injustice that is privilege.
Yet while I have been aware of privilege for a number of years I have been unwilling to write about it. My main reason was to avoid accidentally perpetuating the very thing I wanted to demolish. However, a number of recent events have changed my mind.
-
BlackLivesMatter which is an internet response to the horrific number of Black Americans killed, especially by the police. My desire to recognise and support this has been intensified by the #AllLivesMatter response which denies White Privilege.
- The recent apology by Bill Hybels on his failure to campaign for Women in Ministry. In particular the challenge by Tara Beth Leach in Dear Bill Hybels and Other Men Who Affirm Women in Ministry
- The UK press coverage and political reactions to migrants. It appears to me to be a huge abuse of the privilege of power as it denies the humanity of vulnerable people lacking every kind of privilege.
- The UK attacks on the vulnerable in our society by the political and media establishments. These justify punishing and scapegoating innocent, vulnerable people for the failures of the rich and powerful.
So, while I have resisted the urge to write this for long time, I now feel that there is some value in exploring how to minister from a position of privilege. I want to encourage anyone and everyone to give me feedback and challenge me where needed to avoid the dangers of that might perpetuate the very privileges I wish to challenge. To avoid that I’m writing this using an open process and am eager for feedback in ways that best suit those giving the feedback. Some of the options include Leanpub (where I am writing the book), twitter (@dave42w), email (dave@warnock.me.uk). If these electronic means don’t suit then I am happy to talk on the phone. If that works for you please arrange it via one of the electronic means (yes I recognise the limitations of that but I don’t want to publish my phone number online).
In order to try to subvert the various privileges that allow me to write this book I’m making sure a free copy will always be available for reading online. I’ll also be donating the gross sales income to charity.
What is Privilege?
- From word.com
- a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others
- a special opportunity to do something that makes you proud
- the advantage that wealthy and powerful people have over other people in a society
It is the first and third meanings that are most relevant here.
Yet this definition (like all the online dictionaries that I checked) is very limited. Privilege takes many forms beyond simply wealth and power. Yet even these forms are rarely acknowledged and often denied (we all like to believe we have got to where we are through hard work and talent). Privileges are easily ignored by those who have them (in part as they have a selective impact on the people we meet by default, so it is easy to imagine they are normal). All the benefits of privileges are highly intensified through being combined (intersectionality) just are the negatives of lack of multiple privileges. Privileges are completely pervasive in our society.
Here are some examples to get us started. Note that one of the key dangers I am trying to avoid is to use my own explanations of privilege, doing so risks minimising the benefits. Instead I’m linking here to articles by writing from the other side of privilege.
- White Privilege
- see White privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
- Male Privilege
- see The Male Privilege Checklist
- CISgender Privilege
- see 30+ examples of Cisgender privilege
Google will find you plenty of articles as well as denials that these privileges exist, even attempts to turn them on their head. I urge a great deal of caution when someone claims that a privilege that applies to them does not exist. It is far more likely that they lack awareness or empathy.
00-Intro.md 01-what.md 02-breakdown.md 03-recognition.md 04-response.md
What is Privilege - definition - different types - white - male - CIS - UK Citizen - University Educated - House owner - Ordained
Consequences of no Privilege - Danger - Voice - Opportunity - Intersectionality - Gospel perspective
Ministry with Privilege - Recognising my Privilege - denial - Awareness - what to look for - The Gospel as Good News for me - blessing - guilt - shame - anger - The gospel as good news for people without privilege - value - justice - transformation - hope - “We believe in life before death” - oh and we also believe in life after death - The Gospel and Privilege - the pitfalls - patronising - irrelevant - comfortable - Daily Mail Christianity - the possibilities - good news - voices - power - inclusion - encouragement - leadership - service God’s Kingdom - now - coming - to come