What happens when churches finally talk openly about class?
Bridging Poverty & Privilege is a new ChurchX online course developed by Bedford House and shaped by the lived experience and leadership of people who have navigated poverty. Drawn from Bedford House's successful Bridging Teams model, this six-module learning series helps participants explore the fears, stigma, and misunderstandings that often divide us from one another as church and community members.
Through video conversations featuring Reverends Allan and Lynn Smith-Reeve and members of the Bedford House community, participants will examine why many well-intentioned middle-class solutions can miss the mark, how efforts to "help" can sometimes unintentionally cause harm, and what genuine, mutual relationships across class lines can look like.
Rather than focusing on charity or homelessness, this course invites participants to reflect on the deeper question: How do we become neighbours to one another across social and economic differences?
Grounded in dignity, hospitality, and curiosity, participants will explore:
● The hidden rules and assumptions shaped by social class
● How poverty and privilege influence worldviews and relationships
● The unintended consequences of traditional helping models
● Systemic barriers that contribute to poverty
● Practical approaches to building trust and belonging across class lines
● The role churches can play in fostering communities where everyone is both teacher and learner
This course reflects The United Church of Canada's commitment to justice, inclusion, and right relations by inviting participants to move beyond assumptions and charity-based approaches toward relationships rooted in mutuality, dignity, and shared learning.
Offered nationally through ChurchX, the course is particularly well suited for small group study. Participants can engage with the material independently or use it as a catalyst for group discussion and community learning.
This course is ideal for church leaders, small-group facilitators, community volunteers, social service workers, and anyone seeking to build meaningful relationships with people whose lived experiences differ from their own.
In a time of growing economic inequality and social polarization, Bridging Poverty & Privilege offers practical tools and hopeful pathways for building stronger, more connected communities. By fostering curiosity, dignity, and authentic relationships across socio-economic differences, participants are invited to rediscover the lost art of being neighbours to one another.
Facilitated by Bedford House
Bedford House is a community-building non-profit organization committed to bridging social and economic divides. Through lived-experience leadership, educational programming, and community dialogue, Bedford House creates opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to learn from one another and build authentic relationships across class lines.
The course features the voices and leadership of Rev. Allan and Lynn Smith-Reeve alongside members of the Bedford House community whose lived experience has shaped the curriculum and learning journey.
To Register as a Team
- One person per team should register themselves, and pay the full $99 registration fee.
- Other members should register themselves, and change the "Pay what you can" price to $0.00.
Register as a Team Member
Not part of a Team?
Register as an individual
