Recently we have set up the role of Inclusion Champion in 2 of our churches to help us be more aware of the needs of people who come to our churches, the depth of our welcome, and the ease with which people might feel excluded from our church families. Part of this is looking to ensure that practical things we can do are being thought about, such as ease of access to our buildings. Another aspect is having deeper consideration to people who might feel more hidden, or feel out on an edge, or even struggling to feel welcome at all, and to think about what we can do to ensure that our welcome truly does mean a welcome for all.
Jacqueline, one of our Inclusion Champions, and Revd Stephen went to visit the Open Table community in St Peter's Canterbury, a service specifically for and lead by those of the LGBTQ+ communities and others, to see what we could learn and to enjoy the people's fellowship.
Jacqueline writes:
It truly was a privilege to attend the Open Table Canterbury gathering at St Peter's last Sunday. It was a beautiful and deeply moving service and it was touching to be made so welcome by those who have so often not received a welcome in the same way.
And it made me think about what inclusion really means; that it isn't enough just to include everyone no matter who they might be as though we are all the same, cancelling out our differences as though they didn't matter. Because we all bring special and important gifts and it does matter that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are at the centre of the Open Table gatherings ~presiding, offering prayers, readings, refreshments, and a wonderful welcome.
For once, those who are so often excluded, especially in many churches, were not just included but were at the very centre and were able to offer welcome and inclusion to what was theirs. That they do so is a testament to their generosity and the wildness of Spirit that was present throughout the service. No one will ever persuade me that Christ was not amongst us. I hope to go back again soon.
Open Table meets monthly, on the 2nd Sunday of the month at St Peter's, Canterbury. When we visited, Bishop Rose was preaching and presiding and gave such a strong and affirming message of the importance of all being included and the importance of receiving each and every one person's gifting. People were deeply touched at her words.
Watch as we develop our own journey of examining our welcome and the different needs that arise to include all people in our services, including an upcoming discussion group.
If you have a need that could be addressed better by your church family, please get in touch with Jacqueline or Jenny, our Inclusions Champions, or Revd Stephen. You don't need to have the solution, but we may need to journey together to go find it!