Kingdom at Work
Project
Online Handbook
A New Way of Thinking About Work - A Communal Approach
Human beings are naturally social beings. We learn to express ourselves, develop our personalities, find companionship, and work out our purpose in life through interactions with others. By sharing our knowledge, ideas, skills, experiences and feelings with each other, we form connections and networks.
Most people belong to many different groups or communities, such as family, friends, work, faith, neighbourhood, sports, support, interest, social media. Studies have shown that those with stronger social ties enjoy better mental health and wellbeing.
Work of one kind or another occupies a significant part of our lives and brings us into contact with people we may not otherwise have chosen to associate with. However, we need to learn to trust and collaborate with them to achieve a common objective.
Community is important as the basic building block of society. Concepts of community, collective responsibility and community service can also be found in the major faiths and belief systems.
This approach to work is inspired by Christian teaching and is based on five expressions or hallmarks of community in God’s kingdom – life, liberation, love, learning and leadership (“the 5Ls”). For Christians, the 5Ls are characteristics of life lived in accordance with God’s intentions but as expressions of our common humanity and need for shared purpose, mutual support and a sense of belonging, they have a universal appeal.
Through a series of exercises, the handbook will guide you to put your work in context and help you to appreciate the value of what you do, both for yourself and others. It will lead you to explore the extent to which you feel the 5Ls are evident in your work situation. Where you identify gaps or weaknesses in one or more of these areas, it will prompt you to consider how you might be able to change the situation for the better, make a plan of action, implement it, and then ensure that you learn from your experience by reviewing the effects of actions you take.
