The Inclusive Church network is focused on building up and supporting churches as they grow in their faith and increase their inclusivity and accessibility. The challenge of bringing churches together and enabling positive opportunities for strategic collaboration and experiential learning has never been more needed. The network trustees are very excited to announce the appointment of a new national coordinator to lead this work.

Welcome, Chantal!

The Reverend Chantal Noppen brings over twenty years of experience in ecumenical communities that strive to be inclusive and unite over shared priorities despite diverse backgrounds. Chantal is an outspoken advocate for various marginalized communities and has become well-known through her contributions to the Church of England’s General Synod. She was a co-author of the recently published Clergy Babies Maternity Policy Audit, is a member of the executive committee of the National Association of Diocesan Advisors in Women’s Ministry, and recently attended the General Assembly for the URC as an ecumenical representative. She is a member of SCP and the current leader of Wells Leg of Pilgrim Cross. Chantal is also the author of the popular Play Church books that seek to explain and unpack church traditions in accessible and fun ways.

Mthr Chantal has served for over eleven years in estates ministry in Byker and Sunderland and is deeply committed to finding and celebrating God in the ordinary and everyday, alongside the extraordinary moments. She believes that small changes can have a big impact and we should always be open to learning.

“I am really excited to be given the opportunity to work with Inclusive Church at this time where change is really afoot. I hope and pray that we will continue to see church communities growing where inclusivity is not just an ideal but a lived reality. Together, I hope we can ensure that our churches become beacons of hope and love for everyone, where all are welcome and none are forgotten. I see the National Coordinator role as one of celebration and facilitation, taking the time to hear and share stories of good practice and transformation, and to share resources and practical support to enable changes to be made. I don’t want us to focus on what we aren’t doing, but to be building on what we can do. I am open to rethinking traditions while valuing inherited ideas, believing that the Holy Spirit constantly nudges us to view the world in new ways, refining our present, and liberating us to grow into the future.

Despite being a lifelong Anglican, I bring a genuine awareness and appreciation of other denominations and am keen to encourage positive collaborations. I look forward to working with and hearing from existing members of the Inclusive Church network, and those yet to join, as we discern the way ahead together. Do look out for me at Greenbelt and say hello!”

Chantal started in post on 1 August and is already bringing her colourful, creative perspective to our work. She is in post for a term of one year, enabling the trustees to consider the network's staffing needs as part of our imminent strategic review. For general enquiries, please email our admin Divya at office@inclusive-church.org — Chantal's direct email is natco@inclusive-church.org

Inclusive Church stall

As we do every year, Inclusive Church will have a stall at the Greenbelt festival (shared this year with our friends Modern Church). We're very grateful for the few offers we've already received; our two free tickets are now spoken for, but if you're coming to Greenbelt and you could offer even a few hours during the weekend to staff the stall, please email Chantal: natco@inclusive-church.org

Praying for Chantal

Since Greenbelt is probably when the most Inclusive Church members come together, we are hoping to gather during the weekend to pray for Mthr Chantal as she begins her new role as National Coordinator. (We hope we'll be able to record this short service for those not on site.) Look out for further news!

Thank you, Jonathan

At the AGM, the Reverend Jonathan Draper stood down as a network trustee after many years' dedicated service, first as a partner trustee on behalf of Modern Church and then as an independent. It has been a pleasure and an honour to work with you Jonathan, and we wish you all the best in your newest and greatest role: grandpa.

Alex's Lecture

We are grateful for members of Hinde Street Methodist Church (Marylebone) for their short review of Alex Clare-Young's Annual Lecture: here.

Alex's Lecture is available to watch (again) on Inclusive Church's YouTube channel: youtube.com/inclusivechurch

Blessed are the Weary

Rest & Reflection on Disability, Value and God

Saturday 19 October/Sunday 20 October 2024

Our 13th annual conference on disability and theology, in partnership with St Martin in the Fields.

Saturday 19 October:

In place of a zoom conference we're holding space to explore and embody rest, and to reflect on ideas of value. We''re often judged by what we can do but what does this say about worth — and can rest be an act of resistance? We'll be practising what we're preaching in a retreat day of meditation, creativity, theology and liturgy, using a private website and Facebook group.

Sunday 20 October:

A special service from St Martin in the Fields will reflect on the conference theme, with liturgy written by members of its Disability Advisory Group. BSL available onsite. Then at teatime we'll gather on Zoom to share our experience and responses to the weekend.

Further details and registration coming soon. Follow us on social media or sign up to the conference mailing list : inclusive-church.org/disability-conference-updates

Generous Faith: Creating vibrant Christian communities, by Giles Goddard

Former Chair of Inclusive Church Giles Goddard embodies the story of the Church of England’s struggle to understand and accommodate differences in human sexuality.

From the paradox of feeling both excluded and called to the priesthood, to becoming the only openly gay priest on the Living in Love and Faith co-ordinating group, this book reflects on thirty years’ experience of trying to make the church more inclusive.

In his work as priest of St John’s Waterloo, he has continued to push the boundaries of inclusion, offering a prayer space for the Muslim community, welcoming refugees, the street homeless, and Extinction Rebellion activism.

Anyone who shares these dreams for the church will recognise themselves here: Giles is a kind of everyman for everyone whose faith and work bring them into conflict with the stance of the Church. The story is told through the lens of the Christian year with its seasons of preparation, retreat and growth.

ISBN: 9781786225610

Available from the publishers Canterbury Press and from retailers.

Diocese of Exeter: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the first women priests

Some of the first women to be ordained as priests in the Church of England have taken part in a celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood. The eleven women who had been ordained in 1994 included the Acting Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Jackie Searle. They were joined by other women clergy from across Devon for a special choral evensong at Exeter Cathedral and celebration event in the Bishop’s Palace Garden on Wednesday 10 July. The first women’s ordinations took place in March 1994 following years of campaigning by equal rights groups. The first women were ordained priests in Exeter Diocese on 26 June 1994. Bishop Jackie, who was ordained at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1994 while eight months pregnant, was visibly moved as she addressed the anniversary gathering of women priests. She said “It’s been an incredible privilege for me to be part of this journey, to see how women are flourishing in ministry in Devon and how far this Diocese has come.” This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the first woman to be priested in 1944 and the 10th anniversary of the first woman to be consecrated as a bishop in 2014. The Reverend Prebendary Samantha Stayte was interviewed on BBC Radio Devon about the service at the weekend. To listen to the full interview, click here (around 1hr 38mins into the programme). Click here to read the full news story on the Diocese of Exeter website.

To ensure that you continue to receive this newsletter, please make sure you let us know if you change your email address.

The content of the newsletter is drawn from a number of sources including individuals and partner organisations. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect a 'formal viewpoint' of the Inclusive Church trustees, individual members of Inclusive Church or registered network churches.

You can see an online version of this newsletter and previous newsletters by going to the newsletters page of the IC website.

To unsubscribe from this mailing at any time.