From Lament to Action is the Church of England’s recently published report on racism in the church. Glynne Gordon-Carter, who formerly headed the Church of England’s racial justice work, reviews the church’s previous efforts.
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never- failing stream!”
Amos 5:24 NIV
In December 1987, I was employed as a senior executive officer to the newly formed Church of England’s (CofE) General Synod’s Committee on Black Anglican Concerns (CBAC). The Chairman was Bishop Wilfred Wood, the first Black Bishop in the church. Prior to that, I was employed as a History teacher at Bacon’s CofE Secondary School. A family friend told me about the position in Church House, but I hesitated to apply because the job entailed working with the church at the national level to combat institutional racism. Eventually I applied, was short listed and appointed after two interviews. My husband had lived here before, was supportive, and encouraged me to accept the post. Bishop Wilfred said that one of the reasons for my appointment was the fact that I was new to the society and would have a fresh perspective. In his role as Chairman, Bishop Wilfred was inspiring and I learnt a great deal from him. I retired after 14 years, and Bishop Wilfred encouraged me to record the development of the work. By 2002, I completed an An Amazing Journey: The Church of England’s response to institutional racism. This was published by Church House Publishing Westminster, and launched in 2003.
CBAC’s primary task at the national level was the following: “to monitor issues which arise or ought to arise in the work of the General Synod (GS) and the GS’s Boards and Councils, as far as they have policy implications for minority ethnic groups within the church and wider community”. The Committee was accountable to the GS’s Standing Committee. CBAC’s membership comprised of one person from each GS Board/Council; Association of Black Clergy; GS Black members; nominees of the urban bishops; and co-opted persons. Chairpersons and members of CBAC were committed and generously gave time and expertise to assist/lead assignments. Successors to Bishop Wilfred were Bishop John Sentamu and Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin. The Committee’s strategies were effective; opened up discussion with GS Boards, Councils; offered significant opportunities for collaborative work; informed and educated the church at national level through GS debates for e.g. ‘Seeds of Hope: Report of a Survey on Combating Racism in the Dioceses of the Church of England’; ‘The Passing Winter, a sequel to Seeds of Hope’, and also “The Church of England’s response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report”.
The Central Board of Finance collaborated with CBAC on the formulation and implementation of an equal opportunities policy for the national church institutions, as well as training for departmental heads. The policy was discussed with Diocesan Finance Officers in order to encourage the dioceses to adopt it. However, very few dioceses responded positively. Another area in which we were disappointed was the indifferent response to the “Valuing Cultural Diversity in Rural Primary Schools” – pilot project. This work had been commissioned by the GS Board of Education, in collaboration with CBAC. Two experienced researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Durham had carried out the research and their final submission included ‘A Self Evaluation Kit for Schools’.
The House of Bishops gave their goodwill and support to the survey in parishes which produced the ‘How We Stand: Report on Black Anglican Membership of the Church of England in the 1990s’. Their help was invaluable in ensuring that all parishes received the questionnaire. The House of Bishops also gave their approval for the ‘1994 Black Anglican Celebration for the Decade of Evangelism’, which was held at York University. It was indeed a watershed because for the first time in the life of the Church of England, Archbishops, Bishops and other key people in the church were meeting with Black Anglicans to discuss, share, pray, worship, laugh, play and eat together over a weekend residential conference. In 1995, CBAC was re designated – the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC), as this would be more inclusive of all minority ethnic Anglicans.
It became increasingly clear that the dioceses had to be brought into the conversation if this work was to progress and have any impact at diocesan and parish levels. The Committee’s Terms of Reference (TOR) were expanded to include work with the dioceses. CBAC organised a series of team visits, which were full two-day visits conducted by six persons, mainly Committee members. Meetings were held with Diocesan Link Persons and their support group, other denominations, faith groups, and local Race Equality Councils, in order to get some understanding of what was being done to combat institutional racism. Always, the final meeting was held with the Bishop’s Council. After each visit, CBAC followed up by sending a full report with recommendations to the Bishop. By 2001, thirty six dioceses had team visits; and two had follow-up visits. With respect to education for dioceses and parishes: study packs were published namely, ‘Seeds of Hope’ in the parish study pack; 1994 Pre-Celebration study pack; and ‘A Good Practice Paper’ for dioceses in 2001. The paper was comprehensive as we wanted to share with all dioceses the good practice which we had identified on team visits.
Affirming Black Anglicans was critical because people felt battered by society and the church. CBAC needed to encourage and empower people so that they would be willing to serve. We set up the following initiatives: formation of Diocesan Link Persons (DLP) and Young Black Anglican (YBA) networks supported by Diocesan Bishops; CBAC held annual meetings at Church House; published ‘Feedback’ communication tools; encouraged hosting of local conferences; raised funds for attendance at international conferences: in South Africa, Austria and USA; CBAC held Vocations residential conferences; obtained research funds to get the views of YBAs, and Simply Value Us: Meeting the needs of Young Minority Ethnic Anglicans was published by the researcher. Moreover, CBAC published a General Synod Election pack for CBAC candidates preparing for GS Elections.
These, and other initiatives, helped Black Anglicans to become more visible and confident in the life of the church. However, it is very disturbing to hear of some BAME ordained persons who are being turned away when they apply to serve as curates. The Gospel tells us that we ‘are all made in the image of God, and each is of unique worth in his sight.’ Also, we are the body of Christ. However, the church will never be one body until we recognise, value each other and the diversity of gifts which we bring to the table.
With respect to resources, a Training Consultant on assignment in Church House remarked: “I have been reading the Committee’s publications. You operate like a board but where is your staff?” CBAC was never given a proper level of staff support. As Chairman, Bishop John Sentamu said: “From the beginning, the financial situation was not properly resolved, and financial implications had not followed decisions.”
In 1985, the ‘Faith in the City’ report changed the debate. It raised questions about General Synod and the Church of England; and what were they going to do about the implicit racism in the church? All surveys, reports and publications done over the last 35 years have documented constructive recommendations in all aspects of church life; so, the church does not need another report. In February 2020, The Archbishop of Canterbury admitted that the Church of England was, “still deeply institutionally racist.” ‘The Committee’s theological framework reminds us about “the nature of the Church; a people called into being through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to be a community of reconciliation, love, justice and sharing a foretaste in our time of God’s eternal Kingdom”. Yet, ‘institutional racism has denied minority ethnic Anglicans equality of opportunity, access and full participation in the church’. (An Amazing Journey: The Church of England’s response to institutional racism, Glynne Gordon-Carter).
