Should racial justice be at the heart of the Church’s mission?

John Root writes: ‘Being Built Together Volume 1: A Reference on Racial Justice in the Church of England’ (hereafter BBT) is a ‘book of readings and testimonies about the work of racial justice and the experiences of people of colour in the Church of England’ according to the Church’s leading administrator, William Nye. It includes … Continue Reading

Where is the Church of England going on race and ethnicity?

John Root offers his analysis of the recent report: ‘Behind the Stained Glass: A Report on the participation of UK Minoritised Ethnic People in the Ministry and Leadership of the Church of England’, written for the Racial Justice Commission of the Church of England by Professor Paul Miller and associates of the Institute for Educational … Continue Reading

Statement on the criminalisation of LGBTQI+ people

It has been reported that leaders of the Anglican Church in Ghana are supporting a parliamentary bill that would strengthen harsh criminal sentences for same-sex sexual activity, criminalise people who advocate for LGBT rights, and even punish people just for identifying as LGBT. You can read a memorandum on the legislation here. We are aware that there … Continue Reading

Is there ‘systemic racism’ in Britain? Two views (ii)

In the second of two articles, David Shepherd responds to Will Jones’ argument in the previous post: For many people in the UK, any doubts about the existence of systemic racism were dispelled when, in 1999, after a two-year public inquiry, the highly respected retired High Court judge, Sir William MacPherson, published his eponymous report concerning the … Continue Reading

Is there ‘systemic racism’ in Britain? Two views (i)

In the first of two articles, Will Jones writes: Systemic racism, according to those who campaign against it, is the disadvantage experienced by ethnic minorities on account of the bias, conscious and subconscious, that some people, particularly from the ethnic majority, have in respect of them. Even though racial discrimination in most contexts is unlawful, it … Continue Reading