Reflection 10 and

the Church and, indeed, for the world to function as God intended (see 1 Corinthians 12). We therefore seek to promote and facilitate inclusion of people from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds at all levels and in all contexts.

Racism in all its forms is sinful and contrary to God’s nature and will. It evidences a disregard for the image of God in which humanity was created, and a lack of love for those God created (see 1 John 4:7).

Therefore, we celebrate diversity and are committed to inclusion because people of all racial, ethnic and cultural groups should be welcomed, valued, respected and treated with dignity (see Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12−27; Galatians 3:28; 1 John 3:23).

God’s vision for creation has no place for powers, systems and structures that marginalise and exclude people on the grounds of race, ethnicity or culture. We therefore oppose and seek to expose, challenge and correct stereotypes, prejudices and practices, which result in exclusionary behaviours towards some people, or unfair positions of power or privilege for others (see Micah 6:8; Matthew 21:12; James 2).

Prejudice, discrimination and flawed perspectives of others’ worth can be both individual and institutional, intentional and unintentional. We confess and repent of times we have fallen short of God’s standard (see Romans 3:23), and we commit to seek out and proactively address practices, behaviours or systems that are directly or indirectly incompatible with God’s call to inclusion, hospitality, welcome, equity and justice.

Inclusion, hospitality, welcome, equity and justice are central to God’s nature, the ultimate expression of which is found in Christ (see Galatians 3:28; Romans 5:10–11), in whom we are reconciled to God and to one another, so we are ‘no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

The following questions are intended to facilitate reflection on the issues raised by this statement and assist in identifying potential changes to practice which may be required as a result.

Are there ways in which aspects of this theological reflection statement apply or relate to you personally? How do you respond to the word ‘racism’? Focusing on your work or corps setting, what might the following statements look like in practice?

The Church is called to demonstrate God’s grace and love for humankind by being hospitable and welcoming to and inclusive of people of all racial, ethnic and cultural identities (see 2 Chronicles 6:32–33; Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 10:17–19; 1 John 3:18). This is only possible when doors, arms, hearts and minds are open to welcome all into fellowship and full participation with warm hospitality. Every person has a part to play for the Church and indeed the world to function as God intended (1 Corinthians 12). We therefore seek to promote and facilitate inclusion of people from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds at all levels and in all contexts.

How might we lovingly address practices, behaviours or systems which are directly or indirectly incompatible with God’s call to inclusion, hospitality, welcome, equity and justice? How might we (as individuals, corps, teams, departments, an organisation) seek to expose, challenge and correct stereotypes, prejudices and practices that result in exclusionary behaviours towards some people, or unfair positions of power or privilege for others? What are the implications of the issues raised above as we seek to love God and love others?

household’ (Ephesians 2:19).

We believe God calls us to pursue justice, and challenging injustice is fundamental to this aim. However, where obstacles to justice persist, the achievement of equity may require measures which encourage and facilitate the inclusion and participation of those who might otherwise be excluded (see Deuteronomy 16:20; Psalm 9:7–9; Psalm 67:4; Psalm 99:4; Proverbs 29:14; Isaiah 11:4).

Scripture states that the greatest commandment is to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37–40; Mark 12:30–31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8).

It is our privilege and responsibility under God, who extravagantly loves and welcomes us, to live out that same love, expressed through racial, ethnic and cultural justice, equity, inclusion, hospitality and welcome (see 1 John 3:18, Deuteronomy 6:5).

For more information and resources or to talk to someone about inclusion and welcome, email racial.inclusion@ salvationarmy.org.uk

WRITTEN BY A SUBGROUP OF THE RACIAL INCLUSION WORKING GROUP

A mission of inclusion

Salvationist outlines new initiatives introduced by the territory’s Racial Inclusion Working Group

ALL of humanity is created equally in God’s image. That is the fundamental starting point for the Racial Inclusion Working Group (RIWG), which aims to identify and find ways to address any form of racial inequality within The Salvation Army in this territory. Moving from this theological principle to implementing it in practice, however, is not a simple step. That is where the RIWG comes in.

Following a recommendation from the Territorial Advisory Council, territorial leadership initiated the RIWG in 2021. The group comprises a diverse array of people from across the territory, all working together to prayerfully promote and facilitate the inclusion of people from all racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds at every level and in every context.

‘It’s very difficult, because if there was a blueprint, we would all be following it!’ says RIWG member Raj Gill (Guildford), who describes the group as ‘passionate advocates’ all determined to get things done.

‘The corporate world has taken a lot of measures to address inclusion already and we’re behind,’ he admits.

The group has met many times online to discuss suggested ways forward, with subgroups focusing on specific issues and feeding back ideas to the main group, before progress reports are presented to senior leaders in Cabinet and to the Territorial Advisory Council.

Fittingly, it was only at Together 2022 that some of the group’s members met in person for the first time. As well as raising awareness of the group’s work through a stand at the event, and hosting a panel with the Moral and Social Issues Council on racial inclusion, the group used the weekend to launch a number of initiatives:

WELCOME AND BELONGING SURVEY

Including everyone requires understanding how welcome people feel. To achieve this the RIWG has created a survey that will provide a way to listen to how the Army is experienced by different groups of people and different protected equality groups.

The results will help identify any barriers that might be excluding people and any potential areas of discrimination, as well as understand people’s perceptions and experiences of equity, inclusion and belonging. This will then help determine practical ways in which the Army can improve inclusivity and inform the development of future initiatives.

Its scope is not limited to the protected characteristic of race, but looks more holistically, recognising that people may experience exclusion based on many different aspects of who they are.

The survey is anonymous, comprises approximately 20 questions and is available in multiple languages, including Portuguese, French, Czech and Welsh.

‘I strongly encourage everyone to complete the survey, which focuses on inclusion for all protected groups. Your views will help us better understand the experiences and needs of all of our people and will help to shape our work going forward,’ says Equality and Diversity Manager Jennifer LaurentSmart (THQ).

Jennifer Laurent-Smart, Major Jonny Smith join a racial inclusion discussion panel at Together 2022

TAKE THE SURVEY

The survey is available to everyone in the Army, including employees, members, officers, service users and volunteers. For a printed version to fill in and return by post, email racial.inclusion@salvationarmy.org.uk. Once completed, send your form to: Racial Inclusion Working Group, THQ, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Take the survey by visiting surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Welcome_and_Belonging

INCLUSION MISSION ADVOCATES

The Army spans many different settings and expressions, which means that promoting positive attitudes and inclusive practices can look different in different situations. A new volunteer role of Inclusion Mission Advocate has therefore been created to work on a local level and help communicate the realities of the equality, diversity and inclusion challenges that are being experienced by people in their agreed area.

Inclusion mission advocates will help to identify behaviours that need to evolve and any associated training needs. They will work alongside divisional and corps leaders, as well as senior and service managers, to monitor current equality and inclusion practices, and support the implementation of policies and procedures. They will champion equality, raise awareness of inclusion and ensure that diverse voices are heard and that marginalised and minority experiences are understood.

Initially, the role will focus on issues relevant to racial inclusion, but in the long term its remit will expand to relate to wider protected groups.

‘If you want to do something, we are giving you the structure to empower you to help,’ affirms Raj.

Inclusion mission advocates are not

Major Marjory Parrott (Swadlincote) and Major Beverly Baker (THQ) at Together 2022

expected to be experts and will be fully supported with training and guidance by the territory’s Equality and Diversity Team.

‘The Equality and Diversity Team provides specialist advice and guidance to leadership and the wider Salvation Army on all aspects of equality diversity and inclusion,’ explains Jennifer. ‘We are passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion and are advocates in ensuring that this is at the heart of everything we do. To this end we work collaboratively to develop guidance and resources that promote and embed good equality and inclusion practice in employment, service delivery and mission.

‘We understand the important role equality legislation plays in enabling us to tackle discrimination and address inequalities and this, together with our values, provides a framework within which we operate. Our aim is to help create and sustain an inclusive culture