TMC accepted on the Inclusive Church Register

We are delighted to report that we have been accepted on the Inclusive Church Register. This means that those people who may feel uncomfortable in visiting a church for whatever reason be it because of a disability, gender issue, sexuality or feeling socially isolated, can refer to the register to learn of churches where they will be made unconditionally welcome. We are one of those churches. I believe we are well known for our “welcomes” be it to services or to coffee mornings so continuing these welcomes to all who enter our building will not be difficult. The Inclusive Church Statement is as follows:

“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 sexual. 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.” Inclusive Church is a network of churches, groups and individuals uniting together around a shared vision and we are proud to be part of it.

THE COVENTRY CATHDRAL WELCOME

It seems appropriate to share this Welcome notice from Coventry Cathedral:

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, filthy rich, comfortable or dirt poor.

We extend a special welcome to wailing babies and excitable toddlers.

We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself.

You're welcome here if you're 'just browsing', just woken up or just got out of prison.We don't care if you're more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury, or haven't been to church since Christmas ten years ago.

We extend a warm welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.

We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters.

We welcome those who are in recovery and those who are still addicted.

We welcome you if you're having problems, are down in the dumps or don't like organised religion.

We offer a welcome to those who think the Earth is flat, work too hard, don't work, can't spell or are here because granny is visiting and wanted to come to the Cathedral

We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both or neither.

We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throats as kids or got lost in the city centre and wound up here by mistake.

We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters... and YOU!