Community – A Group of People

A community is a group of people

The word, community seems to be more prevalent today in organisations, workplaces and in society. I see it on the walls of the leisure centre, in communication from my local council, in letters from school. In these settings community refers to people with a common interest, who share the use of the same facility or live in the same geography.

I work with a definition of community that includes intentional relational work that builds the bonds of love between people. These communities are able to hold tensions and differences, they enable people to belong in their differences without defaulting to false harmony or ignoring conflict.

It requires a particular quality of work. The art of fostering relationships in groups. It is rare and beautiful when this happens.