Moving members from the margins to the centre

Why should we be radically inclusive of people with additional needs in church? Jason Shields explained at this year’s Belong conference.

What would our churches look like if we put members currently on the margins right at the centre? Members with additional needs, for example? That’s the question Jason Shields asked in his talk, “Radical Inclusivity”, at the Belong Conference organised by Coventry Elim’s Emma Bacon in June.

The annual event trains youth workers and volunteers who support people with additional needs.

Jason’s message to them – and anyone reading this article – is that churches must stop viewing additional needs support as an optional add-on delivered by specialists or people with a passion for it.

“We want to help church leaders and faith communities understand that a more Christ-like approach is understanding people on the margins, putting them at the centre, allowing them to be heard and really meeting their needs,” he says.

“This is why radical inclusivity matters. If we get it right for these families, we get it right for everyone.”

So why should we aim for this kind of radical inclusivity? Jason gave the example of Hagar – the Egyptian surrogate who names God ‘the God who sees’.