Welcoming and Inclusive

St Edmund’s Church has always been a welcoming and inclusive church. Long before the current debate about gay clergy and women bishops in the church, St Edmund’s just got on with being open, welcoming and affirming.

St Edmund’s has always sought to affirm the ministry of women – supporting the ordination of women to the priesthood. We have been fortunate to have had 3 women priests at St Edmund’s as curates. St Edmund’s is supportive of the move within the Church of England for women to become bishops. Go to the WATCH website for more information.

St Edmund’s Church has also been openly accepting of gay and lesbian people. We are listed as a ‘Welcoming and Open Congregation’ on the website of Changing Attitude (an organisation which works for the full acceptance, welcome and equality of gay people within the Anglican Church). For further information their website is at www.changingattitude.org.uk. The PCC has voted to sign a Declaration of Belief drafted by Inclusive Church. The full text is set out below

A Declaration of Belief
We affirm that the Church's mission, in obedience to Holy Scripture, is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every generation. We acknowledge that this is Good News for people regardless of their sex, race or sexual orientation. We believe that, in order to strengthen the Gospel's proclamation of justice to the world, and for the greater glory of God, the Church's own common life must be justly ordered. To that end, we call on our Church to live out the promise of the Gospel; to celebrate the diverse gifts of all the members of the body of Christ; and in the ordering of our common life to open the ministries of deacon, priest and bishop to those so called to serve by God, regardless of their sex, race or sexual orientation.

The latest Inclusive Church newsletter can be found by clicking the logo on the left.

Gay and lesbian members of St Edmund's are involved at all levels of church leadership and membership. We work to support those who are lesbian and gay as they seek to explore their vocation within the church.  

Gay and Lesbian On-line Discussion Forum. Within this web-site is a confidential discussion forum that is open to gay and lesbian members of St Edmund's church. To join this you need to be an on-line member.

Same-sex blessings
St Edmund’s seeks to work within the framework of the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion regarding the blessing of same-sex relationships. We do have experience within this area and are willing to talk with other churches or individuals who may want to explore this area of ministry.

Local Groups
There are a number of Local Groups that St Edmund’s is linked to that encourage the wider church to engage with these issues. Changing Attitude has a diocesan group. The convener is The Rev’d Sue Brewer. Email Sue for more details. Or go to the Changing Attitude website.

Within the Diocese there is a ‘Listening Group’ that is working to encourage those of different traditions and viewpoints within the church to share together in the listening process that the church has called us to. A website for this group is to be launched soon. Details will be posted here.

There is a gay and lesbian support and social group that regularly meets in Crayford. ‘Haven’ is co-ordinated by Robert Etheridge who is a member of St Edmund’s Church. The current programme for Haven is available here as a download.

Affirming Catholicism has a local group within the diocese. This organisation seeks to be welcoming and affirming of women in ministry and gay and lesbian members within the church