
Eighteen months ago I took a big leap of faith and moved to a new city where I knew no-one. As such, finding communities that offered a welcome was really important to my feeling comfortable and at home.
I quickly joined two communities – a local church and a roller derby team.
What is roller derby?
Roller derby is a contact sport played with two teams of 5 people on a track wearing quad-roller-skates. All the players wear protective equipment to keep them safe, and take on a new name that expresses something of who they are. My name is Tenacious B - a twist on Tenacious D, and something of my desire to never give up. The sport tends to attract misfits, people from the margins who have not yet found their tribe. In a lot of ways it’s a bit like Church.
I wanted to share the top 4 ways the roller derby community has welcomed me, that we could carry into the church.
1. We need you / everyone has a part to play: 1 Corinthians 12
Roller derby is a team sport and it takes people of all shapes and sizes to make a successful team. Whether you’re squat and good at defence, or tall and willowy and skate really fast; we know we need each other - a strong defence or offence on its own is not enough – you also need a mixture of strategists, competitive people, encouragers and motivators to win.
It is the same with church, we need each other.
2. Lending kit & showing an interest: Romans 15
Practically I felt welcomed when the committee asked for my measurements in advance, so on day 1 I could wear kit that was the right size. They lent me all the things I would need to wear so that I didn’t have to invest heavily in before I could try the sport.
Taking an interest in others before they even arrive in person, and making it as easy as possible to join in, are great ways to show welcome.
3. No professionals: Galatians 3
There are no professionals in our team. Everyone contributes ‘for the love of it’; from the coaches to the A-team and the people who referee the games. Who you are off the track: your job, your family, how many friends you have on Facebook, none of that matters. Your attitude, not your status is what makes the difference.
Don’t expect the vicar or the person with the ‘welcome’ badge or the ‘professional’ to do all the welcoming on their own, and create an environment where attitude and faithfulness weigh far higher than rank or salary.
4. Grace for my failings: 1 Thessalonians 5
In roller derby you physically fall over all the time as you learn, and then when you play. The number of times that I have felt like I am a complete failure are innumerable; but in this community we pick one another up when we fall, not making a big deal of each others’ short comings but instead encouraging them to try again.
Creating a place where people feel safe to explore without judgement or fear of failure is important.
Nobody is perfect, in any community this side of heaven there will be politics, and privilege, envy and inequality but perhaps we can learn from the roller derby community.
Bec Wilkinson lives and works in Manchester; helping churches house the homeless across the UK. Bec enjoys cups of tea, travelling, reading good books and of course, learning to play roller derby. Find more of her writing on her blog, and follow her on Twitter @Bec_Wilkinson88.