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.