Story
I am to be baptised on the 6th July, a day after my birthday. I would be really grateful if, instead of a present (not that I'm assuming I'll get one), you could donate in honour of both my birthday and my baptism to an organisation called Inclusive Church.
Inclusive Church is an Anglican charitable foundation dedicated to the message that God's love is inclusive and available to all. My decision to come to baptism has had a lot to do with accepting that message, and it would mean a lot to me if people would donate generously.
I strongly believe that everybody is loved equally by God, and there should be no discrimination in the Church based on attributes that people have no control over. I think it is vital for the future of the Anglican Church (of which I am going to become a part) to come to terms with the diversity of human life and to celebrate it in the Church, rather than the rather distasteful alternative.
I think it would be best if Inclusive Church spoke for itself, so their statement of belief is as follows:
"We affirm that the Church's mission, in obedience to Holy Scripture, is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every generation.
We acknowledge that this is Good News for people regardless of their sex, race or sexual orientation.
We believe that, in order to strengthen the Gospel's proclamation of justice to the world, and for the greater glory of God, the Church's own common life must be justly ordered.
To that end, we call on our Church to live out the promise of the Gospel; to celebrate the diverse gifts of all members of the body of Christ; and in the ordering of our common life to open the ministries of deacon, priest and bishop to those so called to serve by God, regardless of their sex, race or sexual orientation."
This page is set up to ask for a target figure; I had to put a number in but it is arbitrary really.
Thank you very much indeed for supporting this crucial organisation and my baptism.