I am fundraising for Inclusive Church to give people a way to offer a positive response to recent homophobic vandalism at St James church, Kilburn.

St James in Kilburn is an inclusive church, and has signed up to the statement that it does not discriminate, on any level, on grounds of economic power, gender, mental health, physical ability, race or sexuality.  One way it reflects this is by flying a rainbow flag in support of the LGBT community and a trans flag from it's flagpole.  However, in October 2016, the church has twice had these flags torn down in acts of pre-meditated homophobic vandalism, which has also caused damage to church security measures.  The vicar, Revd Andrew Foreshew-Cain, has also received homophobic hate mail, no doubt because of his marriage to his partner Stephen.

I am not connected with St James Church, Kilburn in anyway, I've never been there, I don't live nearby.  But having heard of the abuse that this loving, open, Christian community has received, just because it seeks to be an accepting congregation I somehow wanted to do something to help.  And I thought that an appropriate Christian response would be to encourage the cause of Inclusive Church, a national organisation of which St James' is a member, which wants church to be for everyone.  In this way I hope I, and other donors, will be able to express solidarity with Fr Andrew and the congregation at St James', and also signal to those who are behind these attacks that the outcome of their actions has been to strengthen the cause of inclusivity.  The money raised will help Inclusive Church to equip and encourage churches such as St James to welcome and serve all people in the name of Jesus, helping all people to realise how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.

You can read more about Inclusive Church on their website - www.inclusive-church.org.uk

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