Friends who changed the world
From OnMovements: The Clapham Sect–A Company of Friends
An excellent post on the Clapham Sect, an evangelical movement led by William Wilberforce.
One of the sources they reference is also available: William Wilberforce and His Circle of Friends by Richard L. Gathro.
According to Gathro here’s what characterized this group of friends who changed the world:
- They shared a common commitment to Jesus Christ and a clear sense of calling.
- They were committed to lifelong friendship and mutual submission was the norm.
- Their advocacy was marked by careful research, planning and strategy.
- They worshiped both privately and publicly, gathering twice weekly at the Clapham Church.
- Their friendships were inclusive and focused on the essentials. For example, Wilberforce was a Wesleyan and his closest friend, Henry Thornton, was a Calvinist.
- They made family life a clear priority and delighted in each other’s marriages and children.
- They kept the “long view” on completing projects. Abolition of the slave trade took 20 years!
- They made no dichotomy between evangelism and social action. Their magazine, The Christian Observer, exemplifies this
- Their faith was integral to all of life…family, career, friendship and more. They talked together of a faith that impacted every part of their lives. There were no “compartments.”
- They enabled one another vs. trying to “have it all.” They recognized each other’s passions and supported one another in addressing them.
Finally, nice to see the relationship between a dynamic church planting movement under Wesley flowing into social reform led by Wilberforce.
“Hero for Humanity: A Biography of William Wilberforce” (Kevin Belmonte)
