25th October 2026 

From Welcome to Belonging

When she came to speak to Deanery Synod earlier this month, Zara Rawlinson, our Diocesan Racial Justice Officer, spoke of the need for us to move from a culture of welcome to a culture of belonging. I've been reflecting on that phrase, and on what a "culture of belonging" might look for us at HTSJ.

Much theological writing around mission now accepts that, for large numbers of people, "belonging comes before believing". People with little or no experience of church will taste and see what the culture of church is like, before deciding whether to accept the doctrines and teaching of the church for themselves. In fact, many writers use the concept of a triangle: belonging, believing and behaving - and say that people's entrance into and growth in faith can begin at different points in that triangle. 

For those of us who have been Christians for a while, this is challenging. It means that how we behave, how we model faith, how we invite others to belong in the community of faith will have at least as much if not more impact on those who come to us than will the words spoken from the front (although we continue to trust that the Holy Spirit will convict and convince people of the truth of the gospel through the preaching and teaching in this church). It puts the emphasis on each of us modelling a culture of belonging, Sunday by Sunday, activity by activity, encounter by encounter.

A culture of belonging can be characterised in five ways. First, radical hospitality. Beyond coffee and cake (which we at HTSJ do exceptionally well!), how do we intentionally welcome newcomers*, make space at tables and remove social barriers? Second, belonging before believing. How ready are we to offer authentic community and love to those who are not yet ready to explore Christian doctrine - or to those who have explored it and whose conclusions differ from our own? Third, relational before transactional. How do we get to know people for their own sake, and not merely for the sake of filling programmes, rotas etc.? Fourth, a safe place for questions. How far is it ok for people to bring their mess, their uncertainties, their humanity into the church context? How far is it ok for people to disagree? And fifth, shared purpose and service. How well do we walk together through the ups and downs of life, bound together in all our difference by our shared purpose to serve the God who loves us?

In John's gospel, Jesus calls a diverse group of people to belong to a community of faith defined by a single word "love" and says that this is how the world will know that they are his disciples. "As I have loved you," he says to them (just after washing their stinking feet), "so must you love one another" (John 13:34-35). In first century Jewish culture, love was much less an emotion and much more an action. Our love is measured not by how we feel about everybody we encounter, but about how we treat them. And our model is Jesus, who laid down his life in costly, sacrificial love for his friends.

What are we prepared to lay down so that others can more fully belong?



* Whilst the research I am quoting is about newcomers to church, I do not think this is a zero-sum game. A church which is intentional about creating a culture where all can belong - regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, social or economic status - will be a church which cares better for its faithful core as well.