Confessions of a Homogeneous Unit Principle Advocate

In this column over the years I have often said that I think the Homogeneous Unit Principle (that people like being with people like them, so we should use this to evangelise) is an ungodly master but a helpful servant. While I am still convinced of this, I now think it is naïve to leave it at that.

This change in my thinking has come about because of the tools we use in trying to reach Sydney with the gospel. As I have been talking with ministers and congregations over the last few months I have noticed that most churches now know the census statistics for their parish and the National Church Life Survey data as well. So we strive to minister in one of two ways. Armed with census data we pray and act to reach major ethnic cultures in our areas; or else knowing our congregational make up from the NCLS information we pray and attempt to reach people like those highly represented in our churches. Both methods are gospel hearted!

The problem is that I think the sub-cultures or homogeneous units identified by these methods are too "blunt an implement". Our society generally does not operate as a collection of homogeneous units existing side by side. Rather, people exist in a multiplicity of micro-cultures. For example, at the same time a single household could exist within a family sub-culture, an ethnic sub-culture, a religious sub-culture, a sport sub-culture, a school sub-culture and so on, and so on…

To make matters worse the dominant ‘culture’ of a parish highlighted by a census might prove to be highly significant for the people living in that area - or not. For example, the ethnic tag a person earns may in fact be the least important affinity they have. The raw information tells you very little. After all, the fact that numerous Australian citizens were born in Australia does not identify what really makes each individual "tick".

I am calling for us to observe and know the variety and complexity of overlays of sub-cultures that exist in our churches and our society.

Sounds too hard? How are we going to do it? By walking, observing and listening. Have a look around your area to observe who talks with whom, who greets whom. Notice the places people congregate. Talk with people in church about their various sets of relationships.

Here's a test for us. Do you know the sub-cultures of those in your church? Have you asked others about what they have observed about your area? We eed to be all ears if we’re going to understand the sub-cultures that surround us.

And why bother? So that we can share the wonderful gospel story with those who have not yet responded to Jesus. Congregation members will already live in sub-cultures inhabited by others who need to be hear the gospel. Identifying and helping each other to see these cultures will help us in our desire to see people saved and God glorified.

Then comes the harder bit - proclaiming the Lord in the sub-cultures we inhabit.

There is much more work to be done here at a thinking, observing and acting level. But God has given us our sub-cultures (some of which seem impenetrable). I assume this is so that we have opportunity to share the good news within them.