"Transformational Development"

Centro Cultural Tlaixpan
A ministry of Christian Community Transformation: The future is now!

As a 30 year veteran missionary who has worked with traditional “faith” mission agencies doing church planting through activities like English teaching, local Bible studies and kid’s clubs, as well as spending 12 years in an urban neighborhood engaged in what is called Christian Community Development, I want to affirm that what we are witnessing in this XXI century is something very different. Many missionaries from the activities listed above are recognizing this shift and helping to define it. As one example, a recent book by two of the “founders” of the CCD movement, John Perkins and Wayne Gordon is subtitled: “How Urban/Surburban Partnerships can Transform Communties.” The difference between Development and Transformation might seem small but accurately defined can lead to very different results. Before I highlight some of these differences allow me to give a little history.

The 60’s and 70’s can be remembered among other things as the rise of community organizing led by such activists as Saul Alinsky and adopted by many mainline Protestant and some Catholic churches. A very brief synopsis of their teaching might be outlined as Analysis, Assets and Action. First you identify a problem in the community and analyze its roots and what is needed to bring change. Then, maybe a more recent addition to community organizing, is to discover the strengths or assets within the community that can be harnessed to help bring about this change. Finally, you go into action usually on the streets through some sort of pressure put on the powers that be.

The 80’s and 90’s saw the rise of community development as an activity to bring about what their practitioners call a “deeper” change. It’s Christian form sees this as combining spiritual change with socioeconomic change. In the classic definition by CCD founder, John Perkins, what is required are the “3 R’s.” Relocation is the actual physical presence of those engaged in CCD who get to know the people of the community through life experiences. Reconciliation means healing the differences among the people themselves and dealing with the racism between Anglo-Europeans and ethnic people of color. Redistribution most commonly as meant the transfer of money and other gifts in kind from suburban people of means to the urban poor through their religious institutions.

Just as a way to try to show that change is and has always been inevitable allow me to try to paint in very broad strokes the historical transitions that have taken place in past centuries. Because what we are really talking about here is a way of being and doing church in the world. During the first half of the XX century we saw the shift from Fundamentalism to Evangelicalism. Or as some have described it as moving from a “rescue boat” mentality to an involvement with the world for evangelistic purposes. The XIX century saw a major shift from the more historical and hierarchical churches (Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian) to more Congregational churches (Methodists, Baptists and Pentecostals). Before that of course was the “Magisterial” shift from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism.

So how does what we are proposing with Christian Community Transformation fit into this historical stream? While we happily borrow from each of the foregoing in our methods we are quick to point out that the results we are looking for are quite different. The transformation we are expecting must be on the local, national and international levels. Because we live in such a globalized, inter-connected world where communication is instantaneous and what someone does in one country can directly affect the lives of millions in other countries. Our Center here in Mexico seeks to bring awareness to the local people of our community of the causes of their own poverty and oppression through educational means. We also seek to build networks with other social movements who are on a similar path of education seeking transformation. Finally, we seek international partnerships with people who understand this reality and are willing to challenge their assumptions and divest themselves of their own privilege that there might be equality (II Cor. 8:13).

If you have “ears to hear” this call and desire to partner with us please contact us at: swanyriver@aol.com or view our blog at: www.rocajem.blogspot.com or send a donation to Palm Missionary Ministries at: 1315 Campo Sano Ave., Coral Gables, FL.