Inclusion
– other work
behind the scenes
In addition to celebrating Black History Month publicly, we continue progressing other work to promote and support deeper levels of inclusion and integration across the life of KingsGate.
Building on the strength of our Black History Month celebrations, we have begun broadening our representation and celebration of the heritages and cultures reflected within KingsGate throughout the year. In 2024, we have had opportunities to hear stories from, learn about, and celebrate those with Indian heritage, and those with Albanian and Balkan heritage.
This journey is a marathon, not a sprint, and we remain committed to continuing our learning together.
Advisory Council for Multiracial Inclusion
Working with the Senior Leadership Team, the ACMI both provides advice and supports the implementation of strategic plans in this area. The council itself has become increasingly multiracial in recent years, and seven different national heritages are now represented on the ACMI, which has been key in the ongoing development of new plans for greater integration in KingsGate as a whole.
Inclusion Training
We have continued rolling out a tested training course on inclusion called The Third Option by Miles McPherson. So far this has been delivered to all KingsGate staff, most volunteer leaders, and a growing number of KingsGate Partners. We are aiming to extend this to all KingsGate Partners and to anyone else within the church family who is interested within the next few years.
Representation across KingsGate ministries
Every member of the ACMI is now relationally connected to either a KingsGate Campus Pastor or key department leader in order to strengthen the two-way process of giving advice and offering help.
This also helps to ensure that all ministry leaders consider racial integration as a key filter for many decisions, seeking to ensure they are representing the whole church family as far as possible.
Representation across ministry areas has increased significantly, including our Worship, Kids, and Youth ministries, and our Leadership Academy. This includes ensuring materials used in these ministries are representative of and serve across our church community, and that mentoring programmes have been in place to create opportunity and development.
Multiracial Learning Community
This has now become an annual event and is a forum to share feedback, review progress and capture new ways of furthering our journey of inclusion and diversity more broadly. If you're interested in being part of the next Learning Community, please do get in touch.