i’m thinking this is probably a fourth space, not a third space, but maybe that’s pedantic.
We’ve been developing a proposal for how a multi / no specific faith space might work, in a practical sense, in inner city melbourne.
This is some of the thinking so far:
Intention:
To create an alternative space in Docklands, based on the following principles:
- it will be designed to focus on the city as a place where hope, justice, redemption and restoration can be made real.
-Â it will be open to people of all faiths and no specific faith.
-Â it will be a non-commercial site; nothing will be for sale, and entry will be free.
-Â it will be considered a gift to the people of the docklands; those who visit are not expected to give anything back.
- it will not belong any particular faith or group, and will not be a platform for different groups to ’sell’ their faith.
- communities and individuals from all faiths will be welcome to use the space for gatherings etc., on the basis they enter into a memorandum of understanding about the use of the space.
Oversight
At the moment we’re working with three potential models of oversight.
1. Establish a separate company to run the project.
Positives: independence, less complicated for insurance / legal requirements, less political
Negatives: would need to source all financing, less places to ‘mine’ for resources
2. Establish a collective of people, not specifically designed to be representative of all faiths, but established to represent a healthy cross-section of the community.
Positives: independence, community based, more likely to be representative
Negatives: legal nightmare, would need to put someone in charge [no-one copes well with that]
3. Establish a collaboration between already existing churches and faith groups
Positives: potential for funding, established networks
Negatives: subject to the whims and biases of the existing groups, bureaucratic nightmare
Any thoughts? Potential disasters? Another model we haven’t thought of?
Tags: docklands, public spaces, sacred spaces