Inclusion and Belonging Resources for Group Study
When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them.
Pauli Murray
Inclusion and Belonging can be difficult. The resources provided on this page are for learning to practice inclusion and belonging as spiritual practices of discipleship and reconciliation. How we engage with difference (any difference) matters. It is our responsibility to learn to engage with our differences positively, together, as the unified Body of Christ.
For example, please see Princeton Seminary’s Online course “Cultivating God’s Brainforest” to learn more about Neurodivergence and Youth Ministry, and view the many resources below!
Difference Course (Youth and Adult)
This is a fantastic FREE resource for anyone interested in learning to engage with difference positively. There are free trainings and resources for each session. There are five sessions in the course and all of the course resources are free to download once you’ve been trained. Click below to preview one of the five sessions. Preview resources
Church Cracked Open (Youth and Adult)
“This book will make a profound difference for the church in this moment in history.”
— The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry
In this critical yet loving book, the author explores the American story and the Episcopal story in order to find out how communities steeped in racism, establishment, and privilege can at last fall in love with Jesus, walk humbly with the most vulnerable and embody beloved community in our own broken but beautiful way.
La Iglesia Abierta En Grietas
“Este libro marcará una diferencia profunda para la iglesia en este momento de la historia.”
-El Reverendísimo Michael B. Curry
En este libro crítico pero pleno de afecto, la autora explora la historia de Estados Unidos y la historia de la Iglesia Episcopal para entender cómo comunidades impregnadas de racismo, poder y privilegio pueden, por fin, enamorarse de Jesús, caminar con humildad junto a los más vulnerables y encarnar la comunidad amada de una manera única, rota pero hermosa.
Creative Ideas for Worship with All Abilities
This vital resource explores the essential considerations of pastoral work with those with intellectual disabilities.
Drawing on the vast experience of the L’Arche community that fully includes and centers those with intellectual disabilities, this practical guide offers ideas for imaginative worship to engage people with all abilities. It gives suggestions for enabling participation and building familiarity while keeping worship fresh and varied, with ready-to-use themed service outlines that are appropriate throughout the Christian year.
Child by Child
A how-to guide to integrate children and youth with special needs into church programs and activities, including worship.
Integrating children and teens with learning differences into church programs is a growing priority for nearly all congregations, large and small, yet many feel ill-equipped to “manage” those with special needs in their classrooms, programs and worship. This guidebook for churches is designed to help integrate children and teens with learning differences and their families into the fabric of everyday church life.
Beyond Accessibility
A church has built an accessibility ramp and perhaps refitted its restrooms to accommodate a wheelchair. Now what? This new resource offers a theological and practical approach for congregations, with clear, targeted strategies for full inclusion of all members, recognizing and using the gifts that each member brings to the congregations life together.
Dismantling Racism: Student Journal (Youth)
The Episcopal Church has made a commitment of dismantling racism and building up the Beloved Community since the 1990s. In the early 2000s, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church mandated anti-racism training for all church leaders.
Rooted in faith, the Diocese of Atlanta developed a Christian formation program specifically for youth (grades 6-12). Dismantling Racism: A Youth Curriculum is a 6-session curriculum will help Middle School and High School youth have conversations about race, become allies, and build relationships to address systemic racism in their context. The goal is to help youth connect their faith with racial healing in our communities.
Living God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism for Children (K-5th)
A curriculum that builds God’s beloved community.
Rooted in faith, this five-session formation curriculum is designed to help children understand their own belovedness and the belovedness of their neighbors. Living God’s Dream is a curriculum for children built from activities designed to cultivate the practice of seeing the image of God in everyone. Encouraging children to action, service, and relationships, the curriculum helps children resist ideas that treat others as outsiders.
Pauli Murray (Ages 6-12)
The first introductory and illustrated biography of the civil rights icon.
The untold story of Pauli Murray, activist, lawyer, poet, and Episcopal priest, who broke records and barriers throughout her life. Friend to Eleanor Roosevelt, colleague to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and student of Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murray’s life was nevertheless not always an easy one. Her commitment to fighting for the rights of women and all places her firmly in history. A celebration of her life and its significance, including the role of gender identity in her own journey.
Faith and Courage (Youth, Young Adult, Adult)
In a world driven by poverty, prejudice, and power struggles, the faith and courage of activist Nelson Mandela remains a beacon of hope. South African Archbishop Thabo Makgoba recounts his ministry of prayer and presence in the final years of Mandela’s life—and how, time and again, the politician taught the pastor about ministry.
No Longer Strangers
As Christians, we must not shy away from discussing immigration. We are called to think and talk about it, in our homes, with our friends, and in our churches. Adult forums or formation classes should be places where we can address difficult issues and exchange opinions with love and respect.
This 20-page bilingual booklet (English and Spanish) encourages discussion of migration and immigration through the lens of scripture and shared Christian values. No Longer Strangers presents opposing viewpoints and invites people to talk about the issues with civility and respect. It includes biblical references on hospitality, examples of migrations as they appear in the scriptures, and thought-provoking questions that can be used for both group discussion and personal study.
Ya no son extranjeros
Como pueblo cristiano, no debemos evitar hablar de inmigración. Se nos llama a que reflexionemos y hablemos de este tema en nuestros hogares, con nuestros amigos y en nuestras Iglesias. Las clases de formación o de la escuela dominical deberían ser lugares donde podamos hablar de temas difíciles e intercambiar opiniones con amor y respeto.
Este librito bilingüe (en español e inglés) de 20 páginas nos invita a dialogar sobre migración e inmigración a la luz de las escrituras y de nuestros valores cristianos. Incluye puntos de vista opuestos e invita a la gente a conversar sobre el tema con urbanidad y respeto. Incluye referencias bíblicas sobre la hospitalidad, ejemplos de migraciones que aparecen en la Biblia y preguntas que estimulan la reflexión. Puede usarse tanto para el estudio individual como para la discusión grupal.
Face to the Rising Sun (Youth, Young Adults, Adults)
Winner of a 2023 Illumination Award for Devotional!
Spirituals, songs of abiding faith passed down by African Americans through the centuries, offer a remarkable view of resilience, courage, and love. Formed in the crucible of fire, these songs express the suffering and horror of slavery as well as the love of God and the promise of a better future.
Realizing Beloved Community
This long-awaited work by the church’s top clergy, scholars, and thought leaders examines the theological foundation of Beloved Community and its threats. It addresses such important topics as the legacy and sin of white supremacy, economic disparity, racial healing, and the call for reparations. The committee’s work sheds light on the societal and cultural implications of the largest obstacle to the core mission of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and outlines what is necessary for the future of racial justice.
All Our Children
All Our Children aims to create a moral imperative for congregations, faith leaders, and faith-based social justice groups to make advocating for quality public education for all an explicit part of their mission through partnerships with under-resourced public schools. Includes an Introduction and Epilogue as well as chapters executive summary and discussion guide written by diverse voices within the Episcopal Church, laying the theological groundwork while showcasing examples of how partnership between church and school can lift up “education as forming humans” as one way to serve God’s mission in our neighborhoods.
Formation 