Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Lutheran Perspective (Part Three: Inclusion)
Part Three: Inclusion
What is Inclusion?
There are many examples I could come up with to show why inclusion is important. One that some might be familiar with is being the kid that was always picked last in gym class. I was never the athletic type, so I had a familiar spot along the wall of the gym where I’d wait and watch the team captains call out name after name. Each time the captains called out a name, I would begin to feel small, invisible, and unworthy. It’s not just about the game, is it? It’s about belonging, being seen, and feeling validated.
Inclusion is about more than just fairness. It’s about acknowledging that everyone has value, even if they’re not the strongest player or the fastest runner. When you're the last person standing on the sidelines and no one has chosen you, it conveys the message, "You're not good enough to be part of this team." And that message sticks with you beyond gym class, creating barriers to confidence and self-worth.
Everything changes when a team captain says, “Hey, you're on my team,” even though you both know you're not good at the sport. Each person's presence on the team holds greater significance than their individual skill set. It’s about understanding you’re part of something bigger than yourself.
In the framework of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, inclusion refers to the practice of creating environments where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed, respected, and valued. It’s more than merely having a diverse group of people; it emphasizes the importance of actively engaging and involving all people in decision-making, discussions, and opportunities.
Everyone desires a sense of belonging, whether it’s in gym class, at work, or the public sphere. Ensuring everyone feels a sense of belonging provides opportunities for contributing their unique perspectives and experiences. Attention to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion affirms an organization’s priority in creating a culture that nurtures collaboration, innovation, and mutual respect. When an organization fosters inclusion, individual satisfaction rises, and the organization succeeds in its goals. All of this leads to more effective teams and improved performance.
Inclusion matters because it’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or abilities, has equal access to opportunities and resources. When those are accomplished, people feel empowered to participate fully in all aspects of life and society.
Inclusion in Scripture
Close your eyes for a minute and picture the space where you worship on Sundays. Now picture all of the people that sit around you. Take note of all of their differences—what they look like, where they work(ed), and where they are from. As you think of this community, consider how each of those individuals contributes to the mission of your congregation.
The Christian communities in the first-century were probably more inclusive than what we’d consider our modern-day churches. The inclusion experienced within these communities defied traditional standards, such as class and ideology, while also breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers. This isn’t to say there wasn’t resistance; Acts 15 illustrates a debate about whether Gentiles could fully participate in the life of the community without entirely adhering to Mosaic Law. Yet, these communities continued to be radically inclusive, welcoming people from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Wealthy patrons, like Lydia the purple cloth merchant, used their resources to host worship gatherings in their homes and provided resources to those in need within the community. Men and women, young and old, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, added to the rich tapestry of believers woven together by their faith in Jesus Christ.
In their inclusiveness—bringing together people from many ethnic, cultural, social, and gender backgrounds in ways that defied the conventions of their time—first-century Christian communities were innovative. Their commitment to unity in Christ created a transformative environment where many discovered equality and belonging that defied conventional boundaries. As they tried to live out their inclusivity, they encountered constraints and conflicts, much as any human community would have and continue to experience. Their efforts remain a potent illustration of the difficulties and benefits of creating inclusive communities.
None of what I’ve just described would have been possible without Jesus’ command to his disciples: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28.19-20 NRSV). The Great Commission calls for the gospel to spread in a way that transcends human boundaries of gender, geography, ethnicity, culture, and social status.
In a more profound sense, the Great Commission encourages us to confront and dismantle our biases, both individually and collectively, in order to faithfully execute Jesus' mandate. Whether conscious or unconscious, human biases influence our perceptions of the world and interactions with others, particularly those who are perceived as different. The in-group/out-group dynamic that these biases generate often leads us to gravitate toward individuals who are similar to us, such as the team captain selecting only the most athletic individuals. This dynamic affects our opinions of trust and suspicion.
A Lutheran Perspective
In such a divided world, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, becomes a process towards reconciliation, much like how the Great Commission challenges us to be agents of reconciliation. Both call us to confront and overcome the deeply rooted biases so that we can more fully and faithfully participate in God’s work.
As a Lutheran, the foundation of my faith rests on the conviction that God's grace is freely offered to all people through faith in Jesus Christ. That's the central teaching found throughout the Lutheran Confessions, and it emphasizes the call towards inclusivity found in the gospel. Luther's strong insistence on sola gratia (grace alone), sola fide (faith alone), and sola scriptura (scripture alone) managed to break down societal barriers that had historically excluded many from fully participating in church life. This all removed the veil to reveal that salvation wasn't something that needed to be earned or purchased, but that God's promise extended beyond wealth and privilege to everyone, regardless of status.
The priesthood of all believers is another aspect of Lutheran teaching that I would be promptly critiqued by my seminary Lutheran Confessions professor for failing to mention. This idea, which is taken from 1 Peter 2.9, serves as a sobering reminder that all people have inherent value and have been invited to take part in God's work, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, class, or ability. That is still an unconventional idea that, when properly understood, helps in dismantling systemic and societal prejudices that support exclusion.
Valuing the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ensures that all people have a voice and place both in society and in the body of Christ. It’s then the inheritance left to us by the Reformers to continue the work of reform by building bridges, dismantling barriers, and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion so that all may experience the fullness of life and the transformative love of God.
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