What do you think?
Rate this book
True Inclusion: Creating Communities of Radical Embrace
Want to be truly inclusive? It's more than flying a rainbow flag on your church doors. So your church website says you're welcoming, a rainbow flag flies out front, worship uses gender-inclusive language, and you make sure you greet the stranger next to you on Sunday mornings. But is all of that really enough? And what if those welcoming gestures actually keep visitors from returning and exclude dozens of other groups or people in your community? In True Inclusion , public theologian and pastor Brandan Robertson shares how to move your church from mere welcome to radical embrace. Pointing to a clear biblical imperative for radical inclusivity in the sanctuary and in the public square, Robertson presents a paradigm-shifting vision of community, "where nothing is simple, nothing is easy, but everything is beautiful." Learn practical, step-by-step approaches to becoming deeply, robustly, and richly inclusive of all people regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and socioeconomic status. Written for people and communities at every stage of the journey, True Inclusion will challenge and inspire you to embody a gospel of radical embrace for all. A study guide and other resources for groups are available at chalicepress.com.
128 pages, Paperback
Published September 11, 2018
14 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Brandan J. Robertson
24 books57 followersRev. Brandan Robertson is a noted author, activist, and public theologian, working at the intersections of spirituality, sexuality, and social renewal. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, serving as the Pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church in New York City and is the founder and Executive Director of DevOUT, a non-profit challenging far-right religious narratives in both digital and traditional media. He’s widely known as the "TikTok Pastor", with a vast digital reach of nearly 350k followers and 10 million views engaging his inclusive theological content across social media. His sermons can also be heard weekly on Star.FM in various states across the country.
A passionate writer, Robertson has authored, edited, or contributed to over twenty-seven books on spirituality, justice, and theology. Notably, his book "True Inclusion: Creating Communities of Radical Embrace" was recognized as an INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist. His writings have appeared in the pages of esteemed publications like TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, NBC, and The Washington Post. He’s currently a columnist for Baptist News Global and for Bishop John Shelby Spong’s Progressing Spirit Newsletter. As a prominent voice in progressive faith discussions, his insights are regularly featured across global media outlets such as CNN, NPR, MSNBC, and The Washington Post. In acknowledgment of his significant influence, Rolling Stone Magazine listed him in its 2021 “Hot List” spotlighting top creatives shaping the future.
Annually, Robertson's sought-after perspective takes him to prestigious platforms like The White House, Westminster Abbey, Oxford University, and The Parliament of World Religions. He's taught seminars for institutions such as the San Francisco Theological Seminary, The Lakelands Institute, Disciples Seminary Foundation, and The Wisdom Centre (Canada). Robertson has also been an honored member of many vital advisory committees for entities like the Democratic National Convention, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2020, he was named a Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar and in 2023 was named a Senior Digital Ministry Fellow of Convergence.
A stalwart champion for LGBTQ+ rights, the Human Rights Campaign lauded him as a top faith-leader fervently advancing LGBTQ+ equality. His tireless efforts encompass collaboration with global political figureheads and activists to eradicate conversion therapy and advocate for the rights of sexual and gender minorities. In 2024, the LGBTQ+ Religious Archives Network honored Robertson for his prophetic leadership for queer inclusion in the Christian Church. Robertson is also a part of the Red Letter Christians Leaders Network, is a founding member of The Union of Affirming Christians, a Patron of One Body, One Faith (UK), and an advisor for The Center for Progressive Christianity, LOVEBoldly, and The Global Interfaith Commission on LGBTQ+ Lives.
In his academic pursuits, Robertson acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute, an Master of Theological Study from Iliff School of Theology, and an Master of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from Eastern Illinois University. He's presently pursuing a PhD in Biblical Studies at Drew University. He currently resides in New York City.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 11, 2018
I met Brandan Robertson back in January of 2015 at his breakout session at the Gay Christian Network Conference in Portland, Oregon. Brandon was my first connection to another queer evangelical Christian, who had a profound impact on my life and reconciliation of my faith and sexual orientation. I’ve been following his journey online ever since.
True Inclusion is written in clear, accessible language about the radical call for diverse inclusion in the church. It is a challenging but necessary read for all people involved in church leadership and particularly those with power and privilege in our patriarchal society. Historically, the church has been dualistic in its thinking about who is in and who is out, who is saved, who is damned, who is clean, who is unclean. It is this line of thinking that Christians are most known for: our exclusion of others. Brandan Robertson challenges this in True Inclusion by highlighting the radical message of inclusion in the Gospel. He adds weight to this profound message by providing evidence of why we exclude, our need for belonging and strategies for inclusion and barriers to true inclusion supported by scripture and advice from a diverse range of voices working in this area.
This book is a resource for those seeking growth, understanding and conversation in area of intersectional inclusion. I will be recommending this resource to Western Australian church leaders and members in my own communities, from which I have been excluded because of my gay sexual orientation. True Inclusion is a very worthy resource of starting and continuing conversations around the broad diversity of humanity and the call to be radically inclusive, mirroring the love of Christ.
True Inclusion is written in clear, accessible language about the radical call for diverse inclusion in the church. It is a challenging but necessary read for all people involved in church leadership and particularly those with power and privilege in our patriarchal society. Historically, the church has been dualistic in its thinking about who is in and who is out, who is saved, who is damned, who is clean, who is unclean. It is this line of thinking that Christians are most known for: our exclusion of others. Brandan Robertson challenges this in True Inclusion by highlighting the radical message of inclusion in the Gospel. He adds weight to this profound message by providing evidence of why we exclude, our need for belonging and strategies for inclusion and barriers to true inclusion supported by scripture and advice from a diverse range of voices working in this area.
This book is a resource for those seeking growth, understanding and conversation in area of intersectional inclusion. I will be recommending this resource to Western Australian church leaders and members in my own communities, from which I have been excluded because of my gay sexual orientation. True Inclusion is a very worthy resource of starting and continuing conversations around the broad diversity of humanity and the call to be radically inclusive, mirroring the love of Christ.
September 21, 2018
Being truly inclusive is not easy. In fact, it may not be possible to include everyone in order to be inclusive (do you include those who disrupt or could cause harm to the community?). I do blieve it is important to move toward inclusion. I serve a congregation that chose, after a long journey, to become Open and Affirming. I will admit that it was costly, but I think necessary for us to be faithful to our calling. Over the past decade or so, more and more resources have emerged that assist in the process. True Inclusion by Brandan Robertson is but one of the most recent expressions.
The book is brief but helpful. It begins with an explanation of exclusion, in large part from the author's own journey from conservative evangelicalism to progressive Christianity. The key to that journey was his own recognition that his identity as a gay man required changes in thinking and practice. As I have said recently in reviews, personal stories are especially helpful in moving the church toward true inclusion. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
The author is currently pastor of Missiongathering Christian Church in San Diego. A Disciples of Christ congregation, it by definition has seen itself as an alternative form of Christian community. Because the Disciples (my denomination) has a relatively open theology (we're non-creedal and give considerable autonomy to congregations) we are a nice fit for such communities. The author, Brandan Robertson, was not a Disciple when he became the congregation's pastor (and I don't know the current state of his denominational affiliation). That said, Robertson has been active for quite sometime consulting with churches, clergy, and Christian organizations about the journey toward LGBT+ inclusion.
While inclusion of LGBT+ Christians stands at the heart of the book, he encourages a broader vision of inclusion, linking gender, class, race with LGBT inclusion. I found the book helpful at many points. I found it interesting, since we had recently placed a Rainbow flag by our sign, that such an act isn't necessarily helpful. LGBT Christians under 40 view it with suspicion. What we thought was a sign of welcome might not be perceived as the same. His emphasis on inclusion being at the heart of the Gospel is also important, though not new.
There were parts where I struggled. I do think that movement toward inclusion will lead to change in one's theology. It is difficult to affirm a narrowly focused vision of God and be inclusive. At the same time I'm not sure you have to throw the whole thing out and start from scratch. One chapter that I found problematic was the one on patriarchy. I do think patriarchy is a problem, but I thought he mixed some categories here that weren't helpful. I have problems with making Jesus a modern egalitarian rebel. I think Jesus was inclusive and had an egalitarian vision, but I don't think Jesus of Nazareth was a contemporary progressive Christian. Historically, I have problems with the vision of the early church being fully inclusive and egalitarian, with fully open table until Constantine came along and messed it all up. Things were much more complex than this vision would suggest. The church became fairly exclusive in its table practice long before Constantine came on the scene.
While I found some of the historiographical issues problematic, the basic premise of the book is helpful and should be recommended. As for that rainbow flag, I will need to think about it!
The book is brief but helpful. It begins with an explanation of exclusion, in large part from the author's own journey from conservative evangelicalism to progressive Christianity. The key to that journey was his own recognition that his identity as a gay man required changes in thinking and practice. As I have said recently in reviews, personal stories are especially helpful in moving the church toward true inclusion. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
The author is currently pastor of Missiongathering Christian Church in San Diego. A Disciples of Christ congregation, it by definition has seen itself as an alternative form of Christian community. Because the Disciples (my denomination) has a relatively open theology (we're non-creedal and give considerable autonomy to congregations) we are a nice fit for such communities. The author, Brandan Robertson, was not a Disciple when he became the congregation's pastor (and I don't know the current state of his denominational affiliation). That said, Robertson has been active for quite sometime consulting with churches, clergy, and Christian organizations about the journey toward LGBT+ inclusion.
While inclusion of LGBT+ Christians stands at the heart of the book, he encourages a broader vision of inclusion, linking gender, class, race with LGBT inclusion. I found the book helpful at many points. I found it interesting, since we had recently placed a Rainbow flag by our sign, that such an act isn't necessarily helpful. LGBT Christians under 40 view it with suspicion. What we thought was a sign of welcome might not be perceived as the same. His emphasis on inclusion being at the heart of the Gospel is also important, though not new.
There were parts where I struggled. I do think that movement toward inclusion will lead to change in one's theology. It is difficult to affirm a narrowly focused vision of God and be inclusive. At the same time I'm not sure you have to throw the whole thing out and start from scratch. One chapter that I found problematic was the one on patriarchy. I do think patriarchy is a problem, but I thought he mixed some categories here that weren't helpful. I have problems with making Jesus a modern egalitarian rebel. I think Jesus was inclusive and had an egalitarian vision, but I don't think Jesus of Nazareth was a contemporary progressive Christian. Historically, I have problems with the vision of the early church being fully inclusive and egalitarian, with fully open table until Constantine came along and messed it all up. Things were much more complex than this vision would suggest. The church became fairly exclusive in its table practice long before Constantine came on the scene.
While I found some of the historiographical issues problematic, the basic premise of the book is helpful and should be recommended. As for that rainbow flag, I will need to think about it!
September 10, 2018
Are you serious about change?
I have heard time and time again from churches that they want to change and become more relevant. They wonder why they lose members and cannot attract the younger generation. The fact is, many churches are hypocritical to the message of inclusion that Jesus preaches and practices in the Bible. From the moment that the Christian way was co-opted by Constantine, the church has been ruled by the patriarchy. This has not changed much over the last thousand years and as Brandan Robertson states in his new book, True Inclusion, to become truly inclusive, we must move beyond the patriarchy to a point of egalitarianism. The first disciples practiced this extremely well and as humanity always seems to do, overtime, we lost track of what it meant to love our neighbors as ourselves.
While ordained in a denomination that puts up the image of being inclusive, there are still many of our congregations that are not! The ELCA is the least diverse of all denominations on any given Sunday. Unless we truly begin to embrace the inclusiveness that Jesus speaks of, I do not see how the ELCA or any given number of denominations will move into the future. The message of Jesus Christ has been abandoned and we must do what we can to once again proclaim that message for all to hear, not just a select few that think they are privileged.
The message that Brandan shares in his book is one that all congregations need to hear because as he says, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most radical message ever heard across the face of the earth, not because of its moralistic or dogmatic claims, but because it subverts the very way that humans are programmed to think, to live, and to love.” This is the message that must be broadcast, and yet some people will still choose not to hear it. All we have to do is look at the political spectacle today to know this truth.
Brandan’s definition of inclusion is “about following others to live into their full, divinely created humanity, not degrading them, stripping them of their dignity and personhood.” How can we argue about this in the church? This should be what we strive for, yet we are quick to make exceptions. Jesus’ love, knows no exceptions.
The inclusion that is spoke of in this book will make many people uncomfortable. It will make them uncomfortable because it questions their power and places their fears right in front of them. Yet, how can we call ourselves the church when we do not uphold to this most basic teaching of Christ?
This book is a short quick read, yet it is an extremely powerful call to live into God’s creation. Within this call, he also addresses intersectional inclusion in which two paths must work together, such as the equality between races as well as inclusion of the LGBT+ community. We can help each other in the path towards inclusion because the groundwork has already started to be paved.
He admits that this call to inclusion will not be easy because it requires a change of theology. God is moving within our world and if we fail to heed to the movement of the Spirit, we neglect those that we should have been loving and at times could even exclude ourselves.
A wonderful chapter in the book is when he brings in a panel to ask questions and dig deeper into what true inclusion means. These varied voices add integrity to a book that is already teeming with a call to follow Christ as he called us to love one another. This book is well worth the investment and could be a helpful tool in helping your community embrace a true inclusion where the diversity of God’s creation is fully welcomed and loved beyond capacity.
Thanks to Chalice Press for a copy of this book to review
I have heard time and time again from churches that they want to change and become more relevant. They wonder why they lose members and cannot attract the younger generation. The fact is, many churches are hypocritical to the message of inclusion that Jesus preaches and practices in the Bible. From the moment that the Christian way was co-opted by Constantine, the church has been ruled by the patriarchy. This has not changed much over the last thousand years and as Brandan Robertson states in his new book, True Inclusion, to become truly inclusive, we must move beyond the patriarchy to a point of egalitarianism. The first disciples practiced this extremely well and as humanity always seems to do, overtime, we lost track of what it meant to love our neighbors as ourselves.
While ordained in a denomination that puts up the image of being inclusive, there are still many of our congregations that are not! The ELCA is the least diverse of all denominations on any given Sunday. Unless we truly begin to embrace the inclusiveness that Jesus speaks of, I do not see how the ELCA or any given number of denominations will move into the future. The message of Jesus Christ has been abandoned and we must do what we can to once again proclaim that message for all to hear, not just a select few that think they are privileged.
The message that Brandan shares in his book is one that all congregations need to hear because as he says, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most radical message ever heard across the face of the earth, not because of its moralistic or dogmatic claims, but because it subverts the very way that humans are programmed to think, to live, and to love.” This is the message that must be broadcast, and yet some people will still choose not to hear it. All we have to do is look at the political spectacle today to know this truth.
Brandan’s definition of inclusion is “about following others to live into their full, divinely created humanity, not degrading them, stripping them of their dignity and personhood.” How can we argue about this in the church? This should be what we strive for, yet we are quick to make exceptions. Jesus’ love, knows no exceptions.
The inclusion that is spoke of in this book will make many people uncomfortable. It will make them uncomfortable because it questions their power and places their fears right in front of them. Yet, how can we call ourselves the church when we do not uphold to this most basic teaching of Christ?
This book is a short quick read, yet it is an extremely powerful call to live into God’s creation. Within this call, he also addresses intersectional inclusion in which two paths must work together, such as the equality between races as well as inclusion of the LGBT+ community. We can help each other in the path towards inclusion because the groundwork has already started to be paved.
He admits that this call to inclusion will not be easy because it requires a change of theology. God is moving within our world and if we fail to heed to the movement of the Spirit, we neglect those that we should have been loving and at times could even exclude ourselves.
A wonderful chapter in the book is when he brings in a panel to ask questions and dig deeper into what true inclusion means. These varied voices add integrity to a book that is already teeming with a call to follow Christ as he called us to love one another. This book is well worth the investment and could be a helpful tool in helping your community embrace a true inclusion where the diversity of God’s creation is fully welcomed and loved beyond capacity.
Thanks to Chalice Press for a copy of this book to review
July 28, 2021
An interesting read for me. There's a lot I agree with and a fair bit I disagree with too. Robertson seems to have created a gospel where inclusion is the only good and exclusion the only sin. I agree that being inclusive of your fellow humans will get you pretty far in the sight of God. I also agree that the real work of the gospel happens one on one, helping individuals change their lives for the better, without judgement or conditions. I agree that God loves all unconditionally, although I don't believe that He necessarily condones all our behavior.
I was confused when he said you can't expect members of your church to change in order to enter. But isn't changing your life the entire point of the gospel? Everyone needs to change, to throw off our sins through the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement. The whole reason Christ came to earth was to conquer sin and death, to allow us to repent of our sins and be resurrected after we die.
I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an organization which is just about on the opposite side of the spectrum of Christianity from Mr. Robertson. While I wouldn't call it a conservative organization in the Trumpian sense, it's certainly not progressive either. We're highly organized, have extremely clear doctrine, and embrace the spiritual and miraculous. The main question in my mind while reading this book was, "Yes, but did you ask God about that?" There was no mention of revelation, of the Holy Spirit, or even prayer. It's just very confusing to me, since revelation and personal guidance from the Holy Ghost is such a big part of my life. The church Robertson describes seems to be a political action group that reads from the Bible. Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want, but isn't it more important to be forming a relationship with God?
I agree with Robertson that Christ spent most of his time with the downtrodden, with the misfits and outcasts, and people who claim to follow him should do the same. I agree that we need to do better, especially in the culture I come from, to make sure that LBGTQ people are safe, respected, and loved, and that starts by treating them as individuals with unique circumstances and needs. I agree that the essence of the gospel is to love God and love your neighbor, and your neighbor means everyone, regardless of all the ways we slice our humanity. I agree that our love should be less judgemental, because God is the judge and we are not. There's room for improvement in me and among the members of my Church, without a doubt. I'll be working on that for myself and for the youth I teach.
I was confused when he said you can't expect members of your church to change in order to enter. But isn't changing your life the entire point of the gospel? Everyone needs to change, to throw off our sins through the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement. The whole reason Christ came to earth was to conquer sin and death, to allow us to repent of our sins and be resurrected after we die.
I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an organization which is just about on the opposite side of the spectrum of Christianity from Mr. Robertson. While I wouldn't call it a conservative organization in the Trumpian sense, it's certainly not progressive either. We're highly organized, have extremely clear doctrine, and embrace the spiritual and miraculous. The main question in my mind while reading this book was, "Yes, but did you ask God about that?" There was no mention of revelation, of the Holy Spirit, or even prayer. It's just very confusing to me, since revelation and personal guidance from the Holy Ghost is such a big part of my life. The church Robertson describes seems to be a political action group that reads from the Bible. Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want, but isn't it more important to be forming a relationship with God?
I agree with Robertson that Christ spent most of his time with the downtrodden, with the misfits and outcasts, and people who claim to follow him should do the same. I agree that we need to do better, especially in the culture I come from, to make sure that LBGTQ people are safe, respected, and loved, and that starts by treating them as individuals with unique circumstances and needs. I agree that the essence of the gospel is to love God and love your neighbor, and your neighbor means everyone, regardless of all the ways we slice our humanity. I agree that our love should be less judgemental, because God is the judge and we are not. There's room for improvement in me and among the members of my Church, without a doubt. I'll be working on that for myself and for the youth I teach.
November 2, 2018
A book about being more inclusive at a church, with a particular eye toward what that means for welcoming the LGBTQIA community. Robertson is a pastor, activist and an open and affirming member of the LGBT community (I believe he self identifies as bi-sexual). In this book he discusses ways that the church has, and does exclude those on the margins and exhorts others to embody the implications of the inclusive gospel of grace. He also explores the ways patriarchy has been damaging to a whole lot of people and ways we can begin to dismantle it.
This isn't a book on biblical exegesis and Robertson doesn't spend a lot of time building a scriptural argument for his position. Instead he talks about his experience of coming to terms with his sexuality in a conservative denomination, at a conservative Bible college, and the experience of other LGBT folk navigating the church experience. As such, if you have a traditional understanding of marriage, and sexuality, this book will not convince, so much as highlight some of the issues and experiences of the LGBT community as they seek to navigate faith.
This isn't a book on biblical exegesis and Robertson doesn't spend a lot of time building a scriptural argument for his position. Instead he talks about his experience of coming to terms with his sexuality in a conservative denomination, at a conservative Bible college, and the experience of other LGBT folk navigating the church experience. As such, if you have a traditional understanding of marriage, and sexuality, this book will not convince, so much as highlight some of the issues and experiences of the LGBT community as they seek to navigate faith.
June 20, 2019
Call to follow Christ
The core message of this book is that Jesus lived for and ministered to all he encountered in ways that called the true identities of each into relationship and community—inclusion. Each identity being unique, this necessarily rejoiced in the beautiful diversity of humanity as God created us. And we who follow Jesus are called to do the same.
This requires that we dismantle structures of domination/patriarchy that elevate some groups and oppress others. Doing this within our churches brings out particular challenges and joys, which the author explores in depth. His initial focus on oppression of sexual and gender minorities grows to include racism, sexism, ableism, and other oppressions.
The core message of this book is that Jesus lived for and ministered to all he encountered in ways that called the true identities of each into relationship and community—inclusion. Each identity being unique, this necessarily rejoiced in the beautiful diversity of humanity as God created us. And we who follow Jesus are called to do the same.
This requires that we dismantle structures of domination/patriarchy that elevate some groups and oppress others. Doing this within our churches brings out particular challenges and joys, which the author explores in depth. His initial focus on oppression of sexual and gender minorities grows to include racism, sexism, ableism, and other oppressions.
October 8, 2019
If your church or organization is looking to include members of the LGBTQ+ community, this book is a must-read! The author does a great job discussing the theological and realistic reasons why this should occur. We can't ignore the LGBTQ+ community and we can't continue to push them aside because we are uninformed and nervous. The author offers steps for your church to follow to become truly inclusive. This includes more than just hanging up a rainbow flag.
The book is short and a quick read. If your church is looking to form a focus group to work through this process, I highly recommend everyone read this book.
The book is short and a quick read. If your church is looking to form a focus group to work through this process, I highly recommend everyone read this book.
February 17, 2023
Robertson has re-written the gospel by proclaiming the “primary thrust of Jesus’ ministry” was to inspire people to dismantle the patriarchy. The book is rife with eisegetical interpretations of Scripture. I found this book very helpful in understanding what people mean when they speak of inclusion within the church, but it is not a biblically-based theology. Read it as a means of gaining understanding of the progressive Christian worldview, but not as a guide.
February 5, 2020
Easy to read introduction on how to become an open, an affirming, and an inclusive church. Robertson might not push people off any fences they straddle, but his witness needs to be heard. There is a free study guide through Chalice Press.
Read
September 23, 2022This book was very eye-opening. The author brings his first hand experience to the topic of inclusion and the church.
June 15, 2023
Inspired in so many ways!!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews