Sample anti-racism, LGBTQ inclusion, and equity policy for churches
Photo: Gerald Farinas.
Anti-racism, LGBTQ inclusion, and equity policy of ____ [Insert Name]
Why this policy matters
We believe God created everyone to be equal. The Session or Vestry of [Insert Name] knows that racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and the marginalization of neurodivergent people are sins. These forms of bias go against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For a long time, the Church has been part of systems that hurt people based on their race, gender, gender identity, who they love, or how their brains work. We want to change that. We believe the Holy Spirit calls us to fix these wrongs and work for the safety and dignity of everyone.
Our goal for fairness and belonging
We want our church to be a place where everyone feels they truly belong. This includes how we worship, how we learn, and how we share the Sacraments. Just saying "welcome" is not enough. We must look for things that keep people of color, women, LGBTQ people, and neurodivergent individuals from leading or participating. We will work to remove those blocks so that our church is a safe, affirming, and accessible home for all of God's children.
Leading the church
The Session or Vestry will make sure that anti-racism, gender equity, LGBTQ inclusion, and neurodiversity are part of how we run the church. We want our leaders to come from many different backgrounds, identities, and ways of thinking. When we hire staff or look for new elders, we will work hard to find a diverse group of people. We specifically commit to honoring the leadership of women, non-binary people, and those with different neurological processing styles. All of our leaders and staff will take part in training to understand how to stop bias. This helps us make sure our decisions are fair to everyone.
Learning together
Growing in faith means being honest about how prejudice and rigid social standards hurt people. Our church will offer classes and groups where we can talk about these issues openly. We will use books and lessons that include voices from many cultures, genders, and neurotypes. We want to help every member of the church understand how to stand up against hate, sexism, and the exclusion of people whose brains process information differently.
Working with our neighbors
The Gospel calls us to care about our neighbors. The Session or Vestry will work with local groups led by people of color, women, LGBTQ advocates, and disability rights groups. We will use our time and money to support fair rules for things like housing, schools, and healthcare for everyone. We want to be a partner in making our whole city a more just, loving, and accessible place.
Checking our progress
This policy is a promise we make to God and to each other. Every year, the Session will look at this document to see how we are doing. We will be honest about where we have done well and where we still need to grow. We ask the whole church to help us stay true to this work as we follow the path of Christ.
