“DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It’s a framework used by organizations to foster a workplace or community where all individuals are valued, respected, and have equal opportunities, regardless of their background. DEI initiatives aim to create a more inclusive and equitable environment by acknowledging and embracing differences, ensuring fair treatment, and actively welcoming all individuals“

That is what my first Google “hit” came up with when I typed in “DEI”. I am happy to go along with that. The subject that long ago took my interest has again become a widely considered one, along with people taking different views, whether or not DEI is a good or a bad thing. We see in the 2025 version of the “culture wars” the US Trump administration appearing to be much against DEI while the UK Starmer administration appear to be much for it. It is also something that has had a major affect on the culture of churches, including those once considered solidly evangelical now making DEI concerns high up on their list of priorities, whilst their detractors are often accusing them of compromise, wokeism and heresy due to watering down the Gospel and their God appointed mission in order to go along with what society thinks they should be saying/doing.

I recently wrote on my Facebook page, having been earlier disturbed by the ramifications of things to do with DEI: “Opinions are divided in the constituency that I particularly care about and seek to influence – the Christian one, whether or not DEI is a good thing. And to think that not long ago I sat on committees and the like that promoted DEI, which I don’t regret. More recently, I think it has gone too far in too many churches as these become increasingly woke and fail to see that DEI is a weapon employed by the globalist, elite, evil cabal used to brainwash Christian leaders and their flocks into ignoring their nefarious plans and keep them away from a needed robust gospel proclamation (while living is the way Almighty intends us) that begins with things like repentance, righteousness and judgement rather than a wish washy God loves us all just the way we are etc. sort of message I often find preached that fails to touch on these other concerns. I believe there IS a case for DEI as part of our “love thy neighbour” remit. But more thought is needed by me before I can blog on the subject”. I have given it more thought. What follows is the result of that thinking.

In 2012, I wrote my book “Outside the Camp – Reflections of a Community Activist” (see here) for an electronic version and (see here) for an explanation. It tells my story as a full-time community activist that began a little after the turn of the millennium and continues to this day, although due to health and other considerations it is less intense these days. One of the triggers for me getting involved with the wider community was one of my early activities, which was to manage a mental health related project (Growing Together) and discovering that those from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities were less likely to engage with mental health services despite experiencing more than their fair share on mental health issues. This led me to organizing community events. Thus began my journey of engaging with those of all faiths and none, various BME groups, LBGT folk, the homeless, disability groups, victims of abuse, representatives of different political persuasions, those involved with the criminal justice system, etc.

But let me begin with irony followed by naivety. The irony is that my own Plymouth Brethren (PB) background meant that I was less in tune with DEI considerations than those from other Christian backgrounds even though like all real Christians I was spurred on by our “love thy neighbour” mandate. The naivety was that while engaging with this quite different groups had much to commend it in order to promote the common good, without exception, every group invariably had its own agenda and the way forward was to compromise and not to show favour to one group over another. Even so, treating everyone equally, recognising we are all different and including others as far as we can are still values worth having. It should be incorporated into the culture and mission of churches, yet as a church member rather than community activist, my God given mission, including proclaiming the Gospel that also incorporates serving the poor and those who are different, must come first.

Fair enough, one might say, but the hard lesson I had to learn was that while I found that Christians often were prepared to change in order to work with those who weren’t e.g. don’t proselytise or push values in conflict with, for example, Muslims, LBGT activists and secular, humanist, cultural Marxists that appear to have come to the fore as society abandons what was once taken for granted Christian values. I often felt that while Christians sought to meet half way, those who were less sympathetic were not always prepared to do so. What I see all too often are churches NOT heeding the lessons I learned the hard way as they went down the DEI embracing route in order to accommodate “the other”, and in effect lost their nerve on what their mission was as a result. It isn’t quite that simple of course (it rarely is) but if I were to go back 25 years, I would do things differently. I would stand even firmer on the Christian values aspects, be a better role model and think carefully before going along with others’ agendas or adopting opposing values, yet still working with anyone who shared my goals. You could say that I am an example of someone whose views on DEI have gone full circle – while still needing God’s wisdom on the matter.   

Obviously, the extent in which society adopts DEI when it comes to addressing issues that it is facing is something for society (not me) to come to terms with. The “D”, “E” and “I” are all good things in principle but not at the expense of doing what is right and, as we have all too often seen, bowing to political correctness and those penalising people who refuse to go along with the narrative of what is expected from them, part of which is to promote DEI above other considerations. I can only speak for myself and do so with respect to the image above of the Scapegoat that was released into the wilderness on the Day of Atonement, bearing the sins of the Jewish people, and the text that defined my own community activism: “let us go forth therefore unto him (Jesus) without the camp, bearing his reproach”, Hebrews 13:13. It seems to me that my remit includes engaging with whoever (Outside the Camp) in order to serve others but always I must be God’s servant first, even if seen to be anti-DEI.