We’re meeting at Holland House, Cropthorne on Friday October 10th to reflect on what it really means to be an Inclusive Church.

Facilitated by Hereford diocesan missioner Revd Steve Hollinghurst we’ll explore theology and practice.

Holland House is known for its hospitality and all refreshments and lunch are included.

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE

It is free to attend but donations towards the £40/head cost would be welcome. Contact the church office for details.

Transport in shared cars will be arranged closer to the time.

About Inclusive Church

The Inclusive Church movement is a growing network committed to promoting the full inclusion of all people in Christian communities, regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability, sexuality, mental health, or economic status. Rooted in the conviction that the church should reflect the radical hospitality of Jesus, Inclusive Church seeks to challenge systemic injustice and exclusion within church structures and culture.

Founded in 2003, the organisation began as a response to the exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals from leadership and sacramental life. Since then, its scope has broadened significantly to include a wide range of intersecting issues. Inclusive Church now addresses six core areas of concern: ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality, mental health, and poverty. These categories are not treated in isolation; rather, IC recognises the complexity of identity and the ways in which marginalisation is often compounded by overlapping forms of discrimination.

Inclusive Church produces educational resources, including a well-regarded series of booklets, and works in partnership with local congregations, dioceses, and national church bodies to support theological reflection, inclusive policy development, and practical change. It encourages churches not merely to welcome diversity, but to embed inclusion into the life, leadership, and worship of the church.

As a community committed to justice and openness, we are invited to consider how our own practices reflect—or fall short of—the inclusive nature of the gospel. The Inclusive Church vision resonates deeply with the values of hospitality, equality, and grace, and offers a constructive framework for ongoing transformation within the church. Engaging with this movement is both a challenge and an opportunity: to listen more carefully, act more justly, and become more fully the body of Christ in a diverse and changing world.