The Diocesan Vision 2030 is for ‘Every Londoner to encounter the love of God in Christ.’ This includes not only the vast variety of backgrounds, life-styles, and economic circumstances that London contains, but also the infinite range of embodiment and sensory and cognitive shape that is all around us, some of which is labelled by our society as ‘disability.’ More than 1 in 5 people have a physical, sensory, or mental shape that means that they are labelled as ‘disabled.’ However, as the church in London, we want to be a place where no one is disabled but all people are regarded as ‘able’ and are able to use their abilities to contribute to the shape and nature of the church.
As a church we recognise that we have not always been as inclusive and welcoming as we should be. We acknowledge that disabled people have often faced barriers to belonging and participation that have devalued them and their gifts. But, within our 2030 Vision, the diocese is making a new commitment to diversity and inclusion and seeking to be a church in which all people feel they can belong as unique and valued children of God.
Our commitment to enable greater belonging and participation for disabled people in the life and ministry of the church is outlined in the ‘Diocesan Disability Statement’ adopted by the bishops and senior staff of the diocese.
Click here to read the statement