Beyond Politeness: Exploring Christian Hospitality to Strangers and Visitors

Abstract

The author describes a DMin project which grew directly out of contact with outsiders and strangers, many of them needy or difficult people, who for one reason or another came into his city-centre church. The project involved taking a fresh look at hospitality through biblical and theological study, and included undertaking a series of interviews with members of the congregation about their attitudes to hospitality to strangers. The result was a major shift in priorities for the church: its members were challenged to reimagine the way they engaged in their shared public ministry, expanding their view of hospitality to put the marginalised at the centre of their focus.