Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire Affirmations Scheme

The Affirmations scheme invites every church to "demonstrate how it is inclusive and also how it proposes to develop".

The scheme will "capture good practice" and "encourage churches, circuits and districts to go forward". Many people have found, within the Methodist Church, a place where they are loved and belong and experience the all-inclusive love of Christ, and we need to celebrate that and publicise it. We also need to look at the strategies that have been put in place in churches so that we can learn from them.

We invite every church community in the district to read this guidance and complete the self-assessments checklists to reflect on justice, dignity and solidarity within your own churches.
Some of us may complete all three checklists. For others, starting with just one may be more appropriate. It is important to do what is right for your church community.
We invite you to consider what happens in your church community that could be affirmed and celebrated. We invite you to consider how your church community could further develop.
We then invite every church community to take part in the District Affirmations scheme by contacting the Learning Network at watkins@methodistchurch.org.uk to arrange for an affirmation of your church.

Self-assessment checklists

Click to download all the information in one document: BEH Affirmations self-assessment checklist for churches.

Examples

Please read these examples of churches that have engaged with the Affirmations scheme:

Bishop's Stortford Methodist Church - affirming the inclusivity of a church with disabled access
Cornerstone House - affirming the inclusivity of a church on a housing estate with many families on low incomes
Edmonton Methodist Church - affirming the inclusivity of a church that represents the ethnic diversity of its community

The Church is the Body of Christ

"The body does not consist of one member but many ... God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose ... there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together." 1 Corinthians 12:14,18,25-26

There is no hierarchy of discrimination.

The attitudinal, cultural and structural changes required to ensure justice, dignity and solidarity for one group who have been marginalised, cannot be separated from the changes required to ensure justice, dignity and solidarity for all.

Everyone is an individual with a different intersection of characteristics and a unique lived experience.

We invite church communities to consider the experience of people within your church community in terms of our differences in:

Age
Care leaver status
Carer status
Disability and impairment
Ethnicity
Experiences of abuse and trauma
Expression of ministry
Family size and structure
Gender identity
Length of time within a church
Levels of education
Marital and relationship status
Nationality
Pregnancy and maternity status
Religious belief
Roles within a church community
Refugee status
Sex
Sexual orientation
Socio-economic class
Any any other differences that are relevant within your context