Faith worked out in practice

From a statement on "equal opportunities" by the Parochial Church Council of St.Cuthbert’s, Benfieldside.

In our openness to those about us, we recognise the bearing on our lives of the second of the two ‘great’ Commandments: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ The love of Christ knows no limits. Amongst those he sought out were the unpopular, the outcast and the unloved. We seek to follow his example of availability to others. Recognising that Christ’s love is worked out in service, we seek to use our personal gifts and our facilities for their greatest potential in service of others.

We seek to offer a welcome to people from all parts of the community, giving full worth to their humanity without regard to factors which might render them the object of discrimination. We seek to give particular welcome and support to people with disabilities, to children and young people, to the frail and elderly. Although the immediate surroundings of our church and hall are prosperous, we are conscious of the poverty and social need within the boundaries of our parish.

In seeking to meet the needs of others, we endeavour to provide information about our church worship and other activities as widely as possible within the parish. We seek to give practical help to those whose problems of mobility might otherwise preclude their participation.

Our church hall serves the wider community as well as the church. We have an open booking procedure, though users must agree to accept the rules laid down by the P.C.C. / Management Committee. While Christian charity impels us to openness, we reserve the right to exclude people or groups whose behaviour or activity brings them into conflict with others in our community.