What makes a city human?

David Clark
What makes a city human? Or for that matter what makes a neighbourhood, a school, a GPs practice, a business, a transport system or a city council human? Its a fundamental question which needs to be answered both imaginatively and realistically. For visions removed from reality are fantasies, and reality without vision is lifeless. There are two pitfalls in addressing our question. One is to produce a blue-print, a list of indicators for a human city which can at best be only a snap-shot and at worst a straight-jacket. For a human city is a dynamic organism whose nature can never be captured by any one set of attributes. The other pitfall is to abandon all attempts at definition. But this leaves the human city at the mercy every pedagogue, however bizarre or distorted their ideas. We have chosen a third way. It is based on the conviction that those who live or work in cities are the best people to say what makes cities human or inhuman. It is a matter of sharing our visions, insights and ideas and working together to discover the common themes - though then of course these have to be played out in practice. What follows is my contribution to the debate, though here put in the form of questions, as to what makes a city human. The questions are grouped around what I call five gateways into the human city. The first three gateways - life, liberty and love - are the principles which I believe must lie at the heart of a human city. Learning is the ongoing process of discovery. And leadership is that which enables us to put principles into practice. But my contribution must be set alongside yours so that together we can get just that little bit nearer grasping the amazing possibilities of the truly human city.

The Five Gateways

Life People Do we value people as people? Do we value creativity? Is small beautiful? Is there lots of fun and laughter? Do we draw on our spiritual resources? Do we dream dreams and share them? Do we celebrate life together? Place Can people cross out threshold without fear? Do our surroundings have a human face? Have we created attractive surroundings? Have we created a healthy environment? Do we feel safe and secure? Do we have a sense of well-being? Are we friends of the earth?

2 Liberty Do we welcome diversity? Do we offer equality of opportunity? Does each person count? Are we open to the amazing potential of human beings? Are we a community where people flourish? Do we celebrate peoples endeavours as well as achievements? Do we use conflict as the springboard for new beginnings? Do we welcome change as a positive way of life? Do we take risks to enable people to become more human? Do we offer people tools for transformation? Are we working for a just society and world? Love Are we an inclusive community? Do we share a common purpose? Do we have a strong sense of identity? Are we a caring community? Are we generous people? Is communication open and clear? Do we keep faith with one another? Do we work to overcome divides? Are we a community of reconciliation? Do our symbols and rituals enrich our life together? Do we have a strong sense belonging? Is the whole seen as greater than the sum of the parts? Are we involved in the transformation of our world? Learning Is our community learning for living? Are we engaged on a journey of discovery? Is our learning person centred? Do we see ourselves as partners in learning? Do we question what is given? Do we engage with the unfamiliar? Are we open to be surprised? Is discussion and debate the norm? Do we listen attentively? Do we have room for reflection? Do we cherish wisdom? Do we create spaces for transformation? Leadership Are we passionate about creating a more human society? Do we use power to empower? Is leadership dispersed? Are we helping people find a voice? Is decision making shared? Do we enable people to network in ways of mutual value? Do we persevere when the going gets tough? My own five gateways to the human city - or to that part of it in which you live or work - are suggested as points of entry. If any of the questions associated with these gateways enable you to get a little nearer to the heart of what it means to be human

3 then their purpose will have been achieved. But my hope is that you will add your gateways and your questions, perhaps more specifically directed at your particular situation, and that they too will assist others on this all important journey. March 2000 --------------------------David Clark is a Methodist deacon. As a presbyter in the Methodist Church he served in circuits in Sheffield and inner London before moving to become a senior lecturer in community education at Westhill College, Birmingham, then part of the Selly Oak Federation of Colleges. During this time he set up the National Centre for Christian Communities and Networks (NACCAN), the Christians in Public Life Programme (CIPL) and the Human City Initiative. From 1997 to 2000 he was Director of the Human City Institute. He has written widely about the Christian Community Movement, lay ministry in public life, schools as learning communities and urban renewal. His latest book, Breaking the Mould of Christendom Kingdom Community, Diaconal Church and the Liberation of the Laity, was published by Epworth in 2005. In 2008, Epworth will be publishing a symposium of papers discussing that book, entitled The Diaconal Church Beyond the Mould of Christendom. In 2005, he moved out of presbyteral ministry to become a member of the Methodist Diaconal Order.