Urban Villages and Understanding Social Networks
Engaging Urban Affinities - Part 3
By S. Crawley
Identifying affinity groups helps us break the complexity of the city into bite-size chunks.
By starting where we are, we can identify the opportunities God has placed around us.
However, an affinity group is still often very large. Is there a way to break things down further?
I believe there is, based on a combination personal ministry experience, observations and insights from network theory research.
I call this an "urban village".
We have shared and discussed this with urban teams in European, Asian, African and Australian cities. Despite the very different contexts, there is agreement that this framework describes their reality.
Introducing the Urban Village
Within a larger affinity, relationships tend to be clustered in smaller groups of people who are more connected with each other.
"Urban Village" refers to one of these clusters.
For example, football players are an affinity, but a specific football club might be an urban village.
Alternatively, mothers of young children are an affinity, but the mothers who take their children regularly to a particular playground are an urban village.
Within the urban village there are different types of community members. We can often observe three types of urban villagers who have different standing in the village. I call these community builders, community seekers, and nomads.
Let's take a look at each in turn.
Urban Villagers
Community Builders
Community Builders sit at the relational centre of the urban village.
They are most strongly connected to each other and with the community at large. They might have key roles organising, serving or resourcing the community. They may be active in welcoming and initiating new members to the village and are probably considered the heart and soul of the village.
Community Builders are invested in their community. They have influence and leadership, and likely take a guardian role to protect the village from threats.
For an outsider to meaningfully serve and impact the village, they will need the cooperation and support of the Community Builders.
Community Seekers
Community Seekers are on the margins of the urban village.
They participate in activities, but they are not as committed as the Community Builders. Subsequently, their relational ties are not strong and they are unlikely to be influential in the village. It's possible they are seeking for a sense of community but have not yet found it.
It's also possible that their strongest connections might be in other urban villages.
Nomads
Nomads are just passing through the village.
They are checking things out. They visit or participate once or twice, but they keep moving. They may be the members of the village who are most open to new experiences things, but of the three types they will have the least influence on others.
Their strongest social connections are likely in other affinities and/or villages.
Discerning the Village
Of course, these people aren't walking around wearing signboards!
By being observant, we can begin to discern the social dynamics of the village. Here are some questions that can help:
- where are the stable and supportive relationships?
- who has God put in place to lead, bless and serve?
- who cares about the people in the affinity?
- who welcomes about newcomers?
- who do people listen to?
- who does everybody know?
- who identifies with the village?
- who has a strong sense of belonging in the village?
As we move towards an affinity group that God has put on our hearts, the Urban Village and its villagers can help us discern the social dynamics that God has already established there (Acts 17:26-27).
Getting Practical
List the people in the urban village(s) God has called you to. Are they community builders, community seekers, or nomads? Are there different categories that fit your context better?
Now work through the ‘Discerning the Village’ questions.
What are you seeing? Pray into it, asking God to deepen your insight as you interact with your urban village.
Discipling the Urban Harvest provides practical insights and encouragement to walk with God in multiplying discipleship in an increasingly urban world - growing as children of the Father, serving the communities He has called us to, and discipling those hungry to know Him.