I don’t know if you saw the piece about ‘Chavs‘ in this weeks press? It was all based around the fact that Chav is the new word in the English Dictionary, with Medway, specifically Chatham, being the capital town for Chavs.

Chavs in the town can be recognised by their massive hoop earrings, reebok trainers, white trousers, scrunchies and gold clowns and chains around their necks (more accurately pronounced ‘gold claaaaahns and bling innit’).

In Medway we smile about the Chavs and their bling and clowns. Most of the time, I think, it is said with some charm and a little affection.

The news item reported that the definition in the dictionary refers to these people as ‘delinquent members of the underclass’.

I don’t like that. I hate to think I am a citizen of a country where it seems to be acceptable to label people as both delinquent and underclass; to me that seems very Victorian in attitude.

All people are created in the image of God, so how can we stand by and allow others to be referred to as underclass or scum? This, I believe, is the sort of thing we, as churches should be challenging in society. How come when people, create in the image of God, are belittled (and so God, personally, belittled) the church stays quiet … Whereas it can stage a great protest against the reading of a children’s book!

I don’t get it … am I missing something here?