Newark Congregational Church

At our Church Meeting earlier this week we unanimously decided to adopt the Inclusive Church Values Statement which says:

“We believe in inclusive church – a church which celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate.

We will continue to challenge the church where it continues to discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality.

We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.”

We are also joining the Inclusive Church Network.

It has long been my ambition that the church would take this important step which builds on our Church Manifesto commitments:

To look for God in every person and situation;

To resist passing judgement, and befriend people in the margins and

To celebrate the uniqueness of everyone.

We look forward to working together to put this pledge into practice and to share our commitment to inclusivity with those in the wider church.

I hope you share our excitement.

Mark Taylor

Minister – Newark Congregational Church