Renewing the City: Reflections on Community Development and Urban Renewal book report

Renewing the City: Reflections on Community Development and Urban Renewal
Robert D. Lupton
InterVarsity Press (2005)

Thesis and Argument of the Author:
Lupton provides an opportunity to revisit the book of Nehemiah using biblical and historical accuracy while bringing in the current day situations of folks concerned for their community and passionate about the neighborhood and the people in it. He argues we can use the decisions and leadership of Nehemiah, who very effectively rebuild the ancient city, which are completely applicable in urban ministry today. He takes us through a parallel journey of restoration of community both past and present and compares them through a biblical and historical and personal lens.

How the chapters present the argument of the Author:
Lupton presents the information in a unique story format artfully bringing together the biblical narrative of Nehemiah and the teaching method of midrash, illuminating and animating the scriptures, while providing textural references to bring it to life. Using his story and life experiences, Lupton offers the third leg of the story telling stool. Part one contains thirteen chapters which recounts Nehemiah’s story, a man employed within the government who requests a leave of absence, secures a government grant, organizes the largest volunteer mission project in biblical history, transforms a dangerous ghetto into a secure city, and then repopulates it by enticing suburbanites to move in (p). This is an amazing story for anyone in urban ministry.
Part two holds eleven chapters taking several issues from the Nehemiah story and interleaves them with biblical and historic references and also with contemporary experiences and stories from Lupton. A leader defined by the contrasting gifts and abilities between Ezra and Nehemiah illustrates how important these differences often can be when working together using a common vision for God’s purposes. Gentrification with justice (without displacing the poor) identifies the importance of building community and communication paths which include the poor in their own community decisions being careful not to inadvertently cause harm. Allowing the poor to participate in and benefit from the community transformation provides the uniqueness of this story. Lupton uses examples of servant leadership, biblical tithing, obstructed vision and serving being complimentary with leading, as some of the topics through which we draw parallels between historical references and today’s urban ministry challenges affording choices in how we view and work within neighborhoods.

Transferable principles that can be applied to my context:
Circling quote after quote within the book, Lupton’s experience will be my guidepost from which to reflect when going into the neighborhoods. Lupton suggests, the task of redeeming our cities will be accomplished on the ground, one block at a time, by courageous people who take the daily risks that bring life to their corner of the world (223). Nehemiah’s understands that if his calling gives him conviction, the vision becomes his compass then the vision is God inspired for sure. Lupton discusses divine calling and indicates that measurable productivity may not be the definition of success at all; rather it is quality interactions and relationships. Lupton poses the question I am still thinking about, “What if a calling is not primarily about affecting change but rather about being changed ourselves?”