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Dignity and Inclusion Statement

A Community of Welcome

The Community of Nazareth affirms the God-given dignity of every person.

 

We are committed to being a community in which all are received with reverence, safety, and respect.​

 

We explicitly affirm and welcome:

  • LGBTQ+ people

  • Disabled and neurodivergent people

  • People of all genders and gender identities

  • People of all ethnicities, backgrounds, and life experiences

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​No one is required to hide, minimise, or justify who they are in order to belong.​​

Our Theological Grounding

Our commitment to inclusion is not an optional addition to our life, but flows from:

 

  • the hidden life of Christ at Nazareth, marked by humility and faithfulness

  • the Benedictine tradition, which calls us to receive each person as Christ

  • the Anglican commitment to common prayer, pastoral discernment, and generous orthodoxy

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We believe that God’s grace is at work in real, embodied lives — not in abstract ideals of who people should be.​

Safety, Respect, and Belonging

The Community of Nazareth seeks to be a safe space for those who have been excluded, marginalised, or harmed in church contexts.

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We do not tolerate:

  • discrimination or harassment

  • coercion or spiritual pressure

  • shaming related to sexuality, gender, disability, or mental health

  • the misuse of authority or theology to deny dignity

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Safeguarding, pastoral care, and mutual accountability are integral to our common life.

Disability, Neurodiversity, and Access

We recognise that disability and neurodiversity are part of the richness of the Body of Christ.

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We are committed to:

  • listening carefully to access needs

  • making reasonable adjustments wherever possible

  • resisting cultures of perfectionism, productivity, or intensity

  • valuing gentle perseverance over conformity

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Belonging is not conditional on capacity, energy, or “fit.”

A Community of Discernment, Not Assumption

We understand that trust takes time, especially for those who have experienced harm or exclusion.

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If you are discerning, questioning, or cautious, you are welcome to approach the Community at your own pace.

Who to Contact

If you would like a conversation about inclusion, belonging, access, or safety within the Community, you are warmly invited to contact our Novice Director, Br. Andrew-Thomas.

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Br. Andrew-Thomas has particular responsibility for:

  • supporting inclusive formation

  • listening to questions or concerns

  • ensuring that discernment is pastorally safe, attentive, and respectful

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All enquiries are treated with discretion, care, and seriousness.

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A Final Word

The Community of Nazareth seeks to be a place where people are not asked to become someone else in order to follow Christ — but are invited to bring their whole, real selves into a life of prayer, stability, and faithful love.

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