Hope among the ashes
CHRISTIANS and churches can offer a 'voice' and hope for members of the community involved in and affected by the riots in London and elsewhere this week.
The peaceful protest of the killing of a man, Mark Duggan, by police last Thursday, proved the catalyst for a wave of looting and destruction in Tottenham on Saturday night.
The disturbances spread to Enfield and Edmonton the following day, and continued across London throughout the week. There has also been unrest in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol.
The Revd David Shosanya, regional minister of the London Baptist Association, said that while the destruction cannot be condoned, its causes need to be understood and addressed.
'I've been feeling there would be riots from about six to nine months ago,' he told The Baptist Times.
'There has been a groundswell, a general sense of agitation, and the killing of Mark Duggan sparked it off.
'It's sad and you can't condone it, but if you're going to try and offer a solution you need to understand the factors that came together.'
Mr Shosanya said a combination of the MPs expenses scandal, removal of funding for community activities, and high levels of unemployment among the Afro-Caribbean community had ratcheted up the tension in the area.
People believe their voices aren't being listened to, he continued - and this is an area where churches need to step in.
'What's missing is that people don't feel able to get their voices heard,' Mr Shosanya said.
'Historically there has been a mistrust in the Afro-Caribbean community towards the statutory agencies, and the churches can help provide that.
'In the US it's called an umbrella of legitimacy, and I really feel it's not a time for a church leader or a group of churches, but a corporate response from the whole church.'
Mr Shosanya added if the response is not handled well, there could be more riots.
'This could just be the start of it.'
His call was echoed by Patrick Regan, founder of the urban youth charity XLP. 'I don't believe you can arrest your way out of this situation,' he told The Baptist Times. 'We need to look at the long-term approach, and address the root causes of this.
'I'm really, really concerned by what's happened. There's been a lot of tension under the surface for a very long time. There is a section of society that is totally disenfranchised.
'Churches have to engage with this. My experience is if you give them (young people) the opportunity and come alongside them, they will respond. Change is possible.'
Tottenham church leaders met for four hours on Sunday afternoon to discuss how to respond to the unrest.
The Revd Stephen Agilinko of West Green Baptist Church was present. He told The Baptist Times that a vigil of hope had been planned for Monday evening.
'We want to be visible in the community, to offer hope, and stand alongside the MP, community leaders and other faith leaders.'
Churches are also working closely with Haringey Council to identify individuals affected by what's happened. Leaders were also hoping to meet and pray with Mr Duggan's family.
Some of the Baptist congregations were directly affected by the riots. A member of Woodberry Down Baptist Church had her business completely destroyed by fire in Tottenham High Road.
Rioters also broke into a hardware store belonging to a member of Tottenham Baptist Church and took hammers and pick-axes which they used in the destruction.
A boy who had recently started attending the West Green Baptist Church's Sunday School had told teachers that Mark Duggan was his uncle, but had left before the church could pray with the family, Mr Agilinko revealed.
Mr Agilinko added that while his church was close to the riots, it was unaffected, although it cancelled its Sunday evening service in anticipation of a repeat of the events of Saturday.
Members were saddened and surprised by what had happened. 'They thought the community had moved on from the 1980s,' he said.
'There was a general feeling of the need to pray both individually and corporately about the situation.'
The Revd Dr Valentin Dedji, who has been a Methodist minster in Tottenham for 11 years, said the damage caused by the riots was 'horrendous', and that the rebuilding process will be long.
However, he noted that ecumenical links were strong in Tottenham.
'We think that it is our mandate to grieve with those who are grieving. We want to support the families and victims of the riots; to be with them and to pray with them whenever there is loss of life.
'We don't know yet why or what happened; that is part of the healing process.'
Written by Paul Hobson. Courtesy of The Baptist Times
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