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Community & Diversity
Developing Diversity
One of our areas of focus as a diocese is enhancing diversity, because each person matters to Jesus and is precious in his sight. As part of this, we want to support our churches in being as accessible as possible to people of all abilities.Â
This page features a range of resources, ideas and links to more information for how your church can become more accessible to your whole community. Click each heading to find out more and access the resources.
Resources & Links
- Diversity and Belonging Online Course:Â an online course produced by the diocese which takes about 90 minutes to complete. It is designed to help us think about the way we think, the judgements we form, and how we can encourage belonging in our Ministry context.
- Equal Access to Church Buildings:Â a resource from the Church of England with guidance for churches.
- Barrier-Free Belonging: a resource from the Church of England, celebrating the gifts and ministry of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people in the church.
- Liveability Resources: Liveability is a charity specialising in disability access, including support for dementia, mobility, sensory, intellectual and mental health issues, as well as for carers and families.
- Through the Roof:Â a charity helping churches engage. This includes pastoral care for individuals and carers/families, information on funding for building adaptations and resources for Disability Awareness Sunday (September).
- Dementia Action Alliance:Â offers support for growing dementia friendly churches. Support includes action plans delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and practical guides with illustrations.
- At the Gates: Disability Justice and the Churches: a book of stories from 50 disabled people in the church tackling ableism and barriers to inclusion.
- Churches for All:Â information on how to create inclusive services and advice to churches.
- Autism and the Church:Â a resource produced by the Diocese of Oxford.
- Welcoming Autism in Church Guidelines: a resource produced by the Diocese of Oxford.
- 10 Ways to Belong:Â a resource produced by The Methodist Church with advice on supporting children, young people and young adults with additional needs to belong in your church.
- Worship and Disability: a Kingdom for All: a Grove Booklet with suggestions for worship and building accessibility.
- Torch Trust: supporting blind and partially sighted people.
- Additional Needs Alliance:Â helping churches to include, support, create places of belonging for, and spiritually grow children, young people and young adults with additional needs or disabilities.
- Deaf Awareness Training for Churches:Â a video resource produced by Through the Roof.
- Centre for Autism and Theology podcast
- Autistic Experiences of Worship and Liturgy – Tips for Churches:Â a video from the University of Aberdeen on what their research found helps the inclusion of autistic people in the life of the church.
This list of resource has been compiled by Pete Edwards, the Diocesan Disability Adviser.
