IC's Patrons - the Archbishop of Mexico and the Primus of Scotland outside Manchester Cathedral in September 2007

Celebrating the Eucharist at our first residential conference, Drenched in Grace

About Inclusive Church

InclusiveChurch.net was born on 11th August 2003 at a Eucharist in Putney. following deep unease within the Church of England regarding the resignation of Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading. The initial Eucharist at Rev. Giles Fraser's church, St Mary's Putney was attended by over 400 people.

An on-line Petition was set up requesting assent to the following 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 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 response was immense and we soon reached nearly 10,000 signatories. On 15th September a small group of supporters met to consider this overwhelming response, and concluded that Inclusive Church was here to stay.

Over time this group has met and developed. We are now "...a network of individuals and organisations whose make-up reflects the breadth and scope of the Church of England and beyond. We come from differing traditions and differing locations but we are united in one aim: To celebrate and maintain the traditional inclusivity and diversity of the Anglican Communion" We work closely with a large number of organisations. The partnership work which has emerged over the past few years is very valuable - we work with, among others, the Association of Black Clergy, Women and the Church, the Group for the Rescinding of the Act of Synod, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, Changing Attitude, Affirming Catholicism, the Society of Catholic Priests, Accepting Evangelicals, Courage, the Modern Churchpeople's Union, Progresssive Christianity Network and Integrity (US). We are also developing links with Greenbelt and welcome other partnerships.

This website is in development - please take time to look through the site - there are news items of interest, articles, sermons and resources. If you have any comments or suggestions then please contact us by clicking on the email button at the left of most pages.

Our Patrons are the Most Revd. Carlos Touche-Porter, Archbishop of Mexico, and the Most Revd. Dr. Idris Jones, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway and Primate of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Our President is the Revd. Dr. Giles Fraser, Vicar of St Mary's Putney

The current Executive Committee consists of:

Giles Goddard Chair, Rector, St Peter Walworth and Hon Canon of Southwark Cathedral

Philip Chester Vice Chair, Vicar, St Matthew's Westminster

Erica Wooff Secretary, Curate, St Bartholemew's Sidenham

Alex Campbell Treasurer

Committee members representing other organisations:

David Page for Changing Attitude

John Plant for Modern Churchpersons' Union

Christina Rees for WATCH

Jenny Thomas for Association of Black Clergy

Savi Hensman for Anglican Matters (LGCM)