A collection of stories of othering and marginalization in churches

They Who Dwell In The Shadow Of The Church

This site exists for one specific purpose: to spotlight real examples of marginalization and discrimination in the church. Othering is to treat a person or a group of people as intrinsically different. Often these experiences are subtle, but they are still formative experiences that can exacerbate feelings of being different and perhaps less than those around us.

I recently read comments on a Christian radio page and several people stated emphatically that racism does not occur in churches. Reading those comments and seeing numerous racially insensitive posts by church leaders both in the U.S. and U.K. prompted me to start collecting stories. My hope is that we will listen to and learn about the experiences of others. For those who have experienced the hurt of structural marginalization: you are welcome here, and you are not alone.

Do you have a story or vignette you are willing to share? If so, please send via Share a Story. The stories are anonymized. Feel free to email questions to TheyWhoDwell@gmail.com

“Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people.

But stories can also repair that broken dignity.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author

Hi, I am Hannah. I live in the United States and am a criminologist. Born and raised in the the south of England to missionary parents, I grew up in the church. As a mixed race woman in predominantly white, conservative churches and christian groups, I have often felt deeply different to those around me.

Thank you to those who have shared your stories!