Light’s Hope is committed to being a community where every person is valued and welcome. We honour difference as a gift, not a barrier, and we do not tolerate discrimination in any form.
While rooted in the Christian tradition, our doors are open to people of every background, belief, or none. We recognise and respect the wisdom carried by other faiths and spiritual traditions, and we work alongside them in friendship and shared commitment to compassion, justice, and care for our communities.
Equality, Inclusion & Interfaith Policy
1. Commitment
Light’s Hope is committed to being a community where every person is valued, respected, and included. We believe all people are made in the image of God, and the example of Jesus calls us to welcome without exception. Discrimination, harassment, or exclusion will not be tolerated in any form.
2. Scope
This policy applies across the whole life of the denomination, including:
- Worship and Church Families
- Membership and participation
- Ordination, ministry, and leadership
- Volunteering and employment
- Pastoral care and community engagement
- Interfaith and community partnerships
3. Principles
- We welcome and affirm people of every background, including but not limited to:
- LGBTQIA2+ people
- Neurodivergent people
- Disabled people
- People of every age, race, and nationality
- People with or without previous faith or belief
- Belonging is not conditional on belief, background, or conformity.
- Difference is to be honoured, not erased.
- We will make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers and enable full participation.
- Leadership, training, and ordination will be open to all who are called, without discrimination.
- We will challenge language and behaviour that undermines dignity, equality, or safety.
4. Interfaith and Other Paths
- While we are rooted in the Christian tradition, we recognise and honour the wisdom carried by people of other faiths, other spiritual traditions, and those of no faith.
- We believe difference is a gift, not a barrier, and belonging in our Churches never requires leaving behind your identity, heritage, or spiritual journey.
- We will work alongside people of all paths in friendship, respect, and shared commitment to compassion, justice, safeguarding, and care of our communities.
5. Legal Duties
The Church will comply with the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant UK legislation, ensuring protection against discrimination, harassment, and victimisation on the basis of protected characteristics (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation).
6. Responsibility
- Trustees are responsible for ensuring equality, inclusion, and interfaith respect across the denomination.
- Local Churches are responsible for promoting and upholding this policy in their Church Families.
- Ministers, clergy, and leaders are responsible for modelling inclusive, equal rights, interfaith (where needed) and respectful leadership.
- Complaints of discrimination or exclusion will be taken seriously and addressed through the Complaints and Discipline Procedure.
7. Review
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Trustees to ensure it remains consistent with UK law and with the vision of Light’s Hope.