Should your church be a ‘safe space’?

Navigating the delicate balance between protection and exposure, Lucy Peppiatt makes the case for embracing discomfort and adopting ‘brave spaces’, where our Christian beliefs can be respectfully challenged

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘safe space’, but what do you think it means?

Originally, it was a way of recognising that there are some groups of people who are vulnerable to aggression and need a space where they can talk and share without fear. This is a good thing. If we are simply talking about a place or situation in which you are protected from harm or danger and where you can feel confident you will not be exposed to discrimination or harassment, I think we would all want that.