Inclusive Church has a network of 700+ churches, and a list of the new ones who have just signed up can be found below. We also have a network of voluntary Regional Ambassadors around the country. The ambassadors act as a point of contact between a region (especially the inclusive churches in that region) and Inclusive Church nationally. Please get in touch if your church would like to join the network, or if you would like to be an ambassador (if your region already has one or more, don't worry - you can work together!) If you need to get in touch with any ambassador on our list, please just find their email address here.
The role description for Regional Ambassadors was updated during the annual ambassador training in 2022, in collaboration with the ambassadors themselves. It can be read here.
More information on becoming an inclusive church can be found here.
New Churches - May 2023
Market Harborough Methodist Church
St. Barnabas Ealing
St Mary Magdalene, Davington
St Paul’s Methodist Centre, Aberystwyth
St Thomas Methodist Church, Lampeter
St Cuthbert’s Haydon Bridge, Northumberland
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Cossington, Somerset
St Augustine's Church in Dunstable
St Oswald, King and Martyr, Oswestry
St Bride’s, Fleet Street
St Aldhelm's, Branksome, Poole
Church of the Holy Epiphany, Bournemouth
Southernhay United Reformed Church, Exeter
Falstone with Greystead and Thorneyburn, Northumberland
Holy Trinity, Stratford Upon Avon
Royal Docks Community Church, E. London (Baptist)
Iona Abbey
Nantwich Methodist Church
St Edward's Baderfield, Norfolk
Union Church, Margate
Plympton St. Mary's
Plympton St. Maurice
St Paul's Ruislip Manor
St Mary's, Burghill
St Mary Magdalene's, Stretton Sugwas
St Andrew's, Moreton-on-Lugg
Holy Trinity Church, Preston Wynne
St Nicholas' Church, Sutton St Nicholas
St Michael's Church, Sutton St Nicholas
St Mary the Virgin, Marden
Amberley Chapel, Marden
Light of Life Baptist Church, Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk New ambassador
We have a brand new ambassador joining the team in London. Susanna Hartland will join as an IC Ambassador for South London, working alongside two existing colleagues in North London. To get in touch, go to the ambassadors page.
News from Durham ambassador, Heather Graber:
Spiritual Accompaniment and Inclusive Church
As an ambassador for Inclusive Church, I was speaking to Ruth a few months ago about various things I was engaged with. I am a trained spiritual accompanier and have recently become involved in training others who are discerning a call to this ministry. Spiritual accompaniment/direction is the same thing; it is a sacred conversation where one person listens to all that is shared by another and together with the Spirit, they seek God in that person’s experiences. In my conversation with Ruth, and my preparations for the training sessions, I realised there are significant points of connection between Inclusive Church and spiritual accompaniment. I see these connections through my definition of sexuality: ‘our embodied desire for mutual connection that creates and transcends.’ I think all those words are key, but two in particular are significant to me: embodied and creates. We are bodies, we do not simply have bodies. All we experience of the world comes to us through our bodies. We taste, touch, smell, feel, hear the life and love that flows in and between us through our senses. As those who are part of Inclusive Church will know, it is because of our bodies that we are discriminated against, valued, ignored, heard, welcomed, excluded. Our brown bodies, disabled bodies, genderqueer bodies, poor bodies, neurodiverse bodies –all are made in the image of the Sacred Three! As I journey with others in spiritual accompaniment, I am holding space for this person, in this body, having these experiences,with these emotions. As a good accompanier, I must also be aware of what I am conveying with and receiving into my own body as I practice deep listening to what the Divine might be wanting to reveal in this sacred space. A good practice when we engage with others about inclusion in church! What message is my body giving and receiving? The second key aspect of our sexuality is that it is generative. Whether we are making actual human babies or not, is beside the point. Our sexuality is meant to create new life and all of us –regardless of gender, orientation, age,ability....–can create in a variety of ways. We may choose not to exercise our creativity, but I believe we are all creative beings –this is part of the Divine spark: “Let us make....” (Genesis 1:26) We create art, music, nurturing relationships; we cook, live out our calling, care, engage in activism.... And we do all of this with our bodies! As a spiritual accompanier, I create a warm and hospitable space where another feels safe to speak, keep silence, weep, laugh.... I do this physically (quiet room, candle), emotionally (calm), spiritually (prayer) and mentally (good listening skills).The other is also generating life by the language (verbal and otherwise) they use, emotions they feel, energy they bring. In this sacred space, we recognise that the Holy is co-creating with us: bringing light, hope, companionship, courage and wisdom. These are the kinds of sacred spaces we hope to create in and through Inclusive Church where we say: ‘Welcome. All you are, think, feel, experience is welcome in this place.’ Finally, one of the main attitudes of an accompanier is ‘unconditional positive regard.’ This means that you hold a posture of welcome and inclusion towards the one you are accompanying. Regardless of whether or not you agree with their theology or behaviour, you recognise them as one loved by the Holy and infinitely precious. You seek to help them discover, ever more deeply, their belovedness and their relationship with the Divine. As we relate to others, within and outside the church, may we too live in this attitude of generosity and goodwill. May we become ever more at home in our bodies and discover ever more deeply our sacred, creative centre. |
