New Fellowship CIO/Arbury Community Church Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion policy

Policy Statement

New Fellowship CIO (the CIO), which is a charity whose principal purpose is the running of
Arbury Community Church (the Church) is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and
inclusion within our Church and team, and eliminating discrimination. As a worshipping
community, we are committed to treating all people with love, dignity, and respect. In the
collective life of the Church, we will seek to promote equity and look to create an
environment in which all can flourish, where everyone is treated with respect, and
congregants feel they belong. We recognise that it is in all of our best interests to promote
diversity, actively embody inclusion, and eliminate discrimination within all areas of our
work and ministry.

The Equality Act 2010 states that discrimination against the following protected
characteristics is unlawful: age; disability; sex; gender reassignment; marriage and civil
partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race (including skin colour, nationality, and ethnic or
national origin); religion or belief; and sexual orientation. However, we recognise that
individuals can also be discriminated against on the basis of characteristics not currently
protected by law, including: appearance; mental or physical health issues not legislatively
recognised; geographical location; housing; language and communication barriers; caring /
dependants status; socioeconomic status; immigration status; offending background; or any
other matter which causes a person to be treated with injustice.
As a Church, we therefore aim to go beyond our legal requirements to ensure that all
individuals, with protected characteristics and characteristics not protected by legislation,
do not receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of their personal or social
characteristics and are able to access the Church’s activities. We will take steps to identify
and proactively challenge any form of discrimination.

Theological Underpinning

The Church upholds the belief that every human being is valued as part of God’s creation,
made in the image of God. Every person in the world is loved by God, who is the God of
love. God so loved the world that Jesus was sent to break down all the barriers that divide
us from that love and our love for each other. Love is the key to our understanding of how
we relate and behave towards one another. As God loves all people unconditionally, we too
seek to live out that unconditional love in every part of Church life and in the operation of
the CIO.

Policy Principles

All individuals are of equal value, irrespective of their background. Diversity is a strength
which should be recognised, respected, and celebrated by all. Equal value and dignity for an
individual does not mean treating everyone in the same way.

We value everyone for who they are and recognise differences, so individuals feel
understood and accepted whatever their ability or background. We believe that we can
become more inclusive by increasing our ability to understand the needs of those from
marginalised and minoritised communities.

Speaking Up

If anyone experiences, or witnesses, discrimination whilst working with us, in our
communities, or in our congregation, we want to know. We aim to create an environment
where individuals can:
o Make a complaint relating to discrimination and harassment without victimisation.
o Feel confident and able to challenge discriminatory attitudes and behaviours.
All complaints will be taken seriously, dealt with promptly, and investigated as appropriate.
Please refer to the New Fellowship CIO Complaints Policy for further information on this.

Responsibilities

The CIO and Church commit to:
o Create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all
members are recognised and valued.
o Create a working environment that promotes dignity and respect for everyone who comes
into contact with us.
o Not tolerate any form of intimidation, bullying, or harassment, and to discipline those that
breach this policy.
o Promote equality and equity in the workings and activities of the Church and the CIO.
o Make reasonable adjustments for anyone with a disability or neurodiversity, whether
formally diagnosed or not, to assist with accessing the Church’s activities.
o Encourage anyone who feels they have been subject to discrimination or who has
witnessed discrimination to raise their concerns with the Elders or Trustees in the first
instance (where appropriate).
o Regularly review all our policies so that fairness is maintained at all times.
Monitoring and Review
This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure that equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion
are continually promoted.