MISSION-WITH IN INNER-SOUTH MANCHESTER AN AUTO-ETHNOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF PRESENCE- AMONG AND PROJECT-PRAXIS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY AS A MODEL OF URBAN MISSION, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE COMMUNITY GROUP CARISMA. ! by PAUL BRIAN KEEBLE A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield Department of Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham June 2013 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT This research into methods of securing viable Christian mission in an inner-city area investigates a model emerging from praxis as a long-term Christian incomer to inner-south Manchester. ‘Mission-with’ is positioned alongside more direct paradigms, 'mission-to' and 'mission-for', not to replace, but complement, earning the right, especially in sensitive multi-cultural contexts. Two stages are examined through, respectively, auto-ethnographic reflection on my experience, and exploration of four case-studies (including ‘Carisma’, a major community response to gang violence). 1. Incarnational 'presence-among' in a particular context, and ensuing personal praxis with missional potential through ordinary daily life lived among and observed by other local residents. 2. ‘Project- praxis': activity and projects undertaken in equal partnership with other residents from shared concern to remedy local issues. The actions of all involved are seen as shalom-building and therefore missional. The basis is mission as missio Dei and an assumption that each Christian is called by God to service, defined by answering the question “where”. Neglect of this in discipleship has weakened Christian presence in the inner-city. Incarnation, following and ‘fascination’ are investigated as a response. Other contemporary stratagems of mission are surveyed and compared. ‘Mission-with’ strengths and weaknesses are assessed, and application, significance and implications considered. for Daniel ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to: Judith Holly and Alannah. Daniel and Tess Dr John Vincent, Revd Michael Jarrett, Dr Ian Duffield, other staff, and fellow students at the Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield Derek and Maureen Purnell Urban Presence trustees and associates Brunswick Church Carisma Revd Martin and Mrs Carol Gooder Dr Marijke Hoek Gladstone’s Library Friends, family, supporters, neighbours, encouragers, and teachers. CONTENTS Chapter One: An Urban Mission Practitioner Examining Mission .............. 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 2 1.2 Structure .................................................................................................5 1.3 Towards an Understanding of Mission .................................................. 7 1.3.1 Bosch: missio Dei ..........................................................................7 1.3.2 Ferdinando: A Conservative Approach ........................................10 1.3.3 Broad and Narrow Definitions ......................................................11 1.3.4 Mission as Building Shalom .........................................................13 1.4 Developing a Practical Understanding of ‘Mission-With’ ..................... 15 1.4.1 ‘Mission-To’ and ‘Mission-For’ .....................................................15 1.4.2 Stage One: ‘Presence-Among’ ....................................................16 1.4.3 Stage Two: ‘Project-Praxis’ ..........................................................17 1.5 Methodology ........................................................................................ 18 1.5.1 Auto-ethnography ....................................................................... 20 1.5.2 Participant-Observation or ‘Observing Participant’ ..................... 21 1.6 Context .................................................................................................24 1.6.1 Manchester ................................................................................. 24 1.6.2 Inner-South Manchester ..............................................................25 1.6.3 Ardwick ....................................................................................... 28 1.6.4 It’s actually not that bad round here!.............................................31 Chapter Two: ‘Mission-with’ Stage One: ‘Presence-Among’ .................... 33 2.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................34 2.2 Christian Incomers ............................................................................... 34 2.3 Coming to Manchester ..........................................................................37 2.4 Brunswick .............................................................................................39 2.4.1 The Theology of Martin Gooder ...................................................40 2.5 Staying in Manchester ..........................................................................44 2.6 Moving In: Lockton Court ......................................................................46 2.7 Life in Lockton Court ............................................................................ 48 2.7.1 The Broken Lift ............................................................................51 2.8 The Groves .......................................................................................... 52 2.9 Children and School ............................................................................ 56 2.10 Life on The Groves .............................................................................. 59 2.10.1 Interaction with Local Culture ................................................... 62 2.10.2 Mission as Normal Life ...............................................................63 2.11 Urban Presence ................................................................................... 66 2.12 Reflection on the Negatives ................................................................. 68 2.13 Whose Culture? ....................................................................................71 2.13.1 Bringing God or finding God? ................................................... 75 2.13.2 Whose Church? .........................................................................79 2.14 The Location of Christians ....................................................................84 2.14.1 Redemption and Lift ...................................................................85 2.14.2 Life Decision Number One .........................................................88 2.14.3 Cultural Blindness ..................................................................... 90 2.14.4 Distance .....................................................................................91 2.15 Incarnation, Following and Fascination ................................................93 2.15.1 Incarnation .................................................................................93 2.15.2 Following Jesus ........................................................................ 95 2.15.3 Evangelism by Fascination ..................................................... 103 Chapter Three: ‘Mission-with’ Stage Two: ‘Project-Praxis’ ..................... 107 3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................108 3.2 Carisma and PeaceWeek .................................................................. 110 3.2.1 The Gangstop March and Forming of Carisma ........................ 110 3.2.1.1 Getting involved ............................................................... 115 3.2.1.2 “Where are the Pastors?” ................................................ 117 3.2.2 Early activities: The Memorial Service and First PeaceWeek .. 119 3.2.3 Further Development of Carisma .............................................. 122 3.2.4 Relating to the Police ................................................................ 122 3.2.4.1 MMAGS-IAG Membership as an Expression of ‘Mission-With’ ................................................................124 3.2.5 PeaceWeek ...............................................................................126 3.2.5.1 Involving the Churches in PeaceWeek ............................ 131 3.2.6 Relationship with the Churches .................................................133 3.2.7 A Note on the Future ................................................................ 136 3.3 Local Community Organising ............................................................. 138 3.3.1 Friends of Swinton Grove Park ..................................................140 3.3.1.1 Reflection on the Friends Group .......................................141 3.3.2 Residents’ Car Parking ..............................................................142 3.3.2.1 Reflection on Residents’ Car Parking ...............................145 3.3.3 The Community Garden ..........................................................