Urban Forum #1: Lupton

Areopagus #11

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n January the second bi-annual Urban Forum took place in Atlanta, Georgia. This 614 Network event, in partnership with the USA Southern Territory, attracted an international, trans-denominational crowd to find out the latest news, to debate and to learn about front-line ministry to the poorest. (For more background on the Forum click here to download a pdf of a revised article from Salvationist.ca). This Areopagus episode is the first of four theRubicon will be presenting from the Urban Forum.

This compelling and challenging talk by Bob Lupton entitled The Rising Tide of Gentrification makes clear there are systems that need to be redeemed so they take into account the issues of the poor. In a memorable phrase he says: “… our theology and geography have to get into sync.”

Click on the arrow to listen. Runs: 57:26

Speaker: Bob Lupton has invested the past 34 years of his life in inner-city Atlanta, USA. He left a budding business career to work with delinquent urban youth. Bob has made it his life work to rebuild urban neighbourhoods where families can flourish and children can grow into healthy adults. Bob is a Christian community developer, an entrepreneur who brings together communities of resource with communities of need. Through FCS Urban Ministries - a non-profit organization he founded - Bob has developed three mixed-income subdivisions, organized two multi-racial congregations, started a number of businesses, created housing for hundreds of families and initiated a wide range of human services in his community. He is the author of several books and has a PhD in psychology from the University of Georgia.

1 Comment to Urban Forum #1: Lupton

1. Quite the revitalizing talk! It really drives home the fact that sustained personal presence is so much more important than 9 to 5 programs in Christian community building. There is no more effective way than the trust ties you mentionned so frequently to keep a good handle on evolving community needs.

   I am concerned though that among so many the dream continues to be for that single detachedhousing…and for those of us with modest incomes that will entail being part of the diaspora, consigned to being our childrens’ chauffeurs. What I didn’t hear (and I could have missed it)was the preservation and enhancement of community spaces as density increases (beyond schools). For example, right now on every city block with single family homes there are serial puny back yards and hideous rec rooms their square footage added together could make for brilliant recreational space.

   As for the burbs…I dream of a day when we can do better than malls or the parking lots of big box stores as the contemporary equivalent of the town square.
Andrea 614 Regent on March 21st, 2007

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