How to Build the Church of the Future
Our newest book, How to Build the Church of the Future: 20 Years of Inclusive Church, is available direct from our publisher, SCM Press, or from your local bookshop.
Whilst things have arguably moved on in the last decade, the church continues to discriminate against people on the grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. Drawing from ten years of lectures and essays from leading figures associated with the movement such as Loretta Minghella, Anthony Reddie, and Michael Jaggesar, this book marks the 20th anniversary of the Inclusive Church network. Together the essays offer a unique and inspiring account of what an inclusive church is, why it matters, and where it is going.
Inclusive Church Resource series
The Inclusive Church Resource book series is designed for groups to use to gain a greater understanding of the areas of inclusion we focus on. Each book has an introduction, theological reflection, stories from lived experience and a practical resource section. There are also small group study resources which accompany the books, and which are available as free downloads.
*Mental Health includes theology by John Swinton and Jean Vanier, who was found (following a report made into his conduct after his death) to have sexually and emotionally abused women in the context of giving them spiritual guidance. We are sorry for this association and we apologise to anyone to whom it might cause upset to now read the book. When we published the book, this was not known about Vanier. We are hoping to publish a new edition of the book in the near future with theology just by Swinton.
Disability
Mental Health *
Sexuality
Poverty
Ethnicity
Gender
Books can be ordered from the publishers. You can also ask the National Coordinator about the books.
Reviews
‘I very much like the idea that the church’s function is not so much about curing as instead about focusing on healing’ – Sue Atkinson – Church Times
‘Seeks to educate, reflect theologically, and to provide practical advice and guidance. This it does rather magnificently’ – Rachel Mann – Church Times
‘The challenge (in this book) is for us to turn our churches into places where everyone is accepted, and that everyone can gain access to’ – Church Times
‘An excellent book. It would be great to find it on sale at the back of every church in the country’ – Robin Gill – Church Times
‘A clear and very useful exposition of what it would mean to be a Church of the Poor’ – Peter Selby – Church Times
‘This little book provides good place to start (discussing ethnicity and the Church)’ – Nick Spencer – Church Times