What Is The Methodist Church's Stance on Inclusion, Diversity and Equality?

Updated

The Methodist Church states that every person is made in God's image and is of equal value, and it commits itself to "Justice, Dignity and Solidarity." On its website, this commitment is expressed through an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) framework and the simple declaration that "Everyone is welcome." The stance is therefore both theological (grounded in the belief that all people bear God's image) and practical (carried through EDI work in the Church and its communities).

The core position

The homepage sets out the Church's self-description as "a growing, inclusive, evangelistic and justice-seeking Church." Three statements frame the inclusion message:

  • Equal value: "Every person is made in God's image and is of equal value."
  • Welcome: "Everyone is welcome."
  • Commitment: "The Methodist Church is committed to Justice, Dignity and Solidarity."

The site anchors this in scripture, quoting John 13:34 ("love one another") and Genesis 1:31 ("God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good"). The reasoning is that because all people are uniquely made in God's image, the Church aims to live that out both internally and in the wider community.

How the commitment is described

Element What the site says
Guiding values Justice, Dignity and Solidarity
Theological basis All people are uniquely made in the image of God and of equal value
Practical expression Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work in the Church and communities
Further reading A link to find out more about the Inclusive Methodist Church

The EDI work is presented as the way the belief is "lived out," rather than as a separate policy area. The page does not list specific EDI policies, protected characteristics or complaint procedures; it points readers to the Inclusive Methodist Church material for detail.

What this means if you are exploring the Church

If you are researching the denomination's values, the site gives a clear headline position: inclusion is framed as a matter of equal human worth rooted in faith, not as an optional add-on. If you need specifics—such as how a local church handles accessibility, or what formal EDI guidance exists—the homepage is a starting point rather than the full record, and the linked Inclusive Methodist Church pages are the place to continue. The site also shows this values orientation in its wider news and action content, such as peace and social justice initiatives, which indicates the inclusion commitment sits alongside broader justice-seeking work.