To:
Most Reverend Justin Welby
Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell
and the College of Bishops
22nd April 2021
A Concerned Response to the Church of England’s Anti-Racism Task Force report from ‘Lament to Action’ from Church Leaders, Theologians and Laity.
Your Graces,
We write to you with serious concerns about the theological and political underpinnings of the report published on April 22nd by your anti-racism task force. The picture painted of both the Established Church and British society is one which we hold that the majority of the public will find unrecognisable and further create division rather than build on good progress.
The report attempts to set the mood by claiming its “mandate flows not from identity politics but from our identity in Christ. “ Ironically this document is primarily soaked in the language of identity politics and Critical Race Theory buzzwords. Aside from the short prayer at the end key concepts from the New Testament, such as love, forgiveness and reconciliation are amiss while management jargon and spurious political theory are given primacy. The word ‘Jesus’ does not appear in the document at all, outside of the introduction. This should make anyone passionate for the Church apprehensive that the fruits of this task force will not be greater harmony but an expansion of ecclesiastical bureaucracy including the buying in of an army of experts. This surely contrasts with the vision for a humbler and more Christ centred Church?
To this effect, we would like to highlight the following issues of concern under the four major headings, basic assumptions, affirmative action, training and education, and finally theology.
Assumptions:
It is dangerous to imply racial disparities are the direct result of racism. The report presupposes the standard neo-progressive definition of 'racism' (i.e. unequal outcomes, with or without actual racist prejudice). This too merits critique.
On the topic of assumptions, the report does not provide evidence of institutional racism in the Church but operates on the assumption that it is the case.
This negative analysis casts doubt on the impartiality of this task force and to what degree their members have experience of parochial life.
Affirmative Action:
The report promotes discrimination in the co-opting of ‘UKME’ candidates to the General Synod and participant observers into the House of Bishops. There’s also a quota of 30% ‘UKME’s for future leadership cohorts.
Shortlists are to be introduced for every position.
There’s a demand for every Bishops Council to include a minimum of three ‘UKME’ members of clergy/laity. With co-opting powers being used in dioceses with ‘UKME’ populations of national average or above to include 15% UKME participants.
Dioceses with UKME populations of national average or above to include at least one UKME candidate in Non Residentiary Canons each year for a five year period.
Cathedral Chapters to use their co-opting power to actively recruit at least three UKME members of chapter.
Work with higher education institutions to actively and intentionally increase the number of UKME Chaplains serving in Higher Education institutions
These actions are discriminatory, patronising, and likely to breed resentment amongst individuals.
Training & Education:
Parish Church Council representatives and those responsible for clergy appointments are to undertake training on a new anti-racist learning programme.
Church of England schools (both Primary and Secondary) to promote ‘racial justice’. Theological colleges to facilitate conversations on racial justice and equality, promote intercultural placements and mark Black History Month. Staff to undergo anti-racism training. Ordinands to study ‘Black Theology’, putting identity politics before theology.
Develop a mandatory three- stage learning programme:
a) Unconscious bias b) Intercultural awareness c) anti-racism
Issues to address regarding transatlantic slavery:
To take decisive action to address the history and legacy of the Church of England’s involvement in the historic transatlantic slave trade
The Church of England has taken little action in addressing the historic slave trade and its legacy since it made an apology at General Synod in 2006 for its involvement in the trade
In terms of practical implementation, we particularly object to training being imposed upon the clergy, ordinands and the wider Church with what is clearly a politically biased programme as outlined above.
Theology:
"The theology strand of the Racial Justice Commission will review the foundations and principal theological frameworks which entrench racial prejudice across the Church of England’s traditions and doctrines."
"...address wider issues relating to systemic and structural racism within the Church of England, exploring the ways certain theological foundations have legitimised racism in order to redress them."
It is one thing to say that there are racists in the leadership of the Church. But, the thought here seems to be that Christian traditions and doctrines are themselves are infected, which is a far more serious charge. Predictably though, we are never told which parts of traditional Christian teaching perpetuate or condone racial discrimination. Nor are we told how specific doctrines will be assessed for their complicity in racism. We understand that some American progressive Christians have called for the rejection of Biblical authority on this basis – is that what the 'anti-racist taskforce' have in mind? If not, then what?
Since the authors of the document have taken it upon themselves to accuse (Anglican) Christian theology of contributing to racism, it seems only fair that they owe an explanation. It would seem obvious that a deeper and broader theological discussion is needed otherwise the direction of travel will take no one with them.
Conclusion:
On this basis, we the undersigned would be horrified by the premature creation of a permanent Commission at this stage and implore that a much wider conversation be given consideration.
If the stain of racism and bigotry is to be seriously addressed then this must be an inclusive dialogue within the Church that attempts to draw upon the widest of constituencies. As this clearly has not been done and we fear that a rush to a perceived culture change will be damaging and dangerous to the mission of the Church and our shared care of the nation.
Yours,
Calvin Robinson, Ordinand, London
Fr Daniel A. French, Vicar of Malborough, Salcombe and South Huish
Giles Udy, Historian, London
Christophe de Ray, PhD Candidate (Philosophy), London
Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, Educator, London
Dr David G. Green, Researcher, Guildford
Daniel M Vickerstaff, Ordinand, St Stephen's House, Coventry
Tarjinder Gill, Educationalist, London
Emma Webb MA (Cantab) Theology, Researcher, London
The Rev'd Dr Jamie Franklin, Curate, St George in the Meadows Southwell and Nottingham
Rev Phill Sacre, Assistant Minister, Great Clacton Chelmsford
Gary Moore, Pastor, Dover
Annie Wynter-Crofts, Lay Minister, Glastonbury, Bath & Wells
Helen Mary Grierson, Congregant, York
Adrian de la Touche, Concerned Christian, Guildford
John Madden, Research Director, Hayes
Andrew Wood, York
Gary Chambers, Laity, Ely
Helen Elizabeth Edge, Congregant and PCC member, Brereton, Cheshire, Chester
Ian Jones, St Helens
Martin James Seage, Ordinary Church Member, Chelmsford
Tom Clement, Student, Newmarket
Al Wehbeh, Director of Studies All Saints Centre for Mission and Ministry, Chester
Joanne meads (dip c/hsw), Attendee, Salisbury
Kerry Stevens
The Revd Matthew Firth
Jim meads (gsm/ni/lsgc/ wo rtd), Attendee, Salisbury
Ms Margaret Ramsay, Lay person
Jonathan Powell, Laity, London
Dr James Orr, Academic, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, [Ely]
Anya Kirby, Piano teacher, Jewish, friend of St Mary and All the Saints, Potters Bar
Venetia Appelbe, Gloucester
Patricia Garbut, Retired/ Volunteer charity worker, Middlesbrough
Yvette Henson, Lincoln
Mr Daniel Stone
Paul Hester, Volunteer, Salford
Peter Sonnex, Laity, Rochester
Tim Hamilton, Laity, Exeter
Dr Alice Johnson
Russel Abraham, BEng (Hons), Technology Director, C of E
Daniel Blandford
Peter A Barnard FRSA MA, Education Consultant, Bushey, Herts
Jake Scott, Congregant, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Oliver Beatty
Marco Loxley, Director, Pulse Youth Ministry
Jacob Groet, St Albans
Patience Gent
R D Roberts
Brian Sheridan, Laity, Portsmouth
Jimmy Miller, Guildford
Carolyn Haddon, Lay person
Mr David White, Chelmsford
Jason Plant, Laity, The Diocese of Leeds
Dr Micheal Jamison, Church member, Leicester
Sandra Corby, Concerned Christian, Rochester
Guilhem Forey
Sr Margaret Smythe
Abby Artola, Sunday School Teacher (occasional), At Mary’s St Pancras
James McGrath, Erdington
Deborah Riddell, Exeter
Robin Evans, Congregant, Loughton (Diocese of Chelmsford)
Canon Dr Nigel Biggar, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, University of Oxford; Canon, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.
William Pearson-Gee, Rector, Buckingham Parish Church, Oxford
Mrs Patricia Vine, PCC, St. Albans
Maurizio Della Pietra, Citizen, Christian
Christopher Morrison
Susan Mason
Ms Christina Goddard, Parishioner, Liverpool
D Poulter, Congregant, parent of children at CofE school, Southwark
RHYS Fisher, Parishioner, St David’s
Matthew Hilsdon, Concerned Christian
Mrs Catherine Wakelin, Business owner, Christian, York
C Seaward, North Devon
Luke Siggers, Milton Keynes
Shirley Meri Adams J.P., Citizen, Blackburn
David Mercer, Congregate, St Mary’s London, Ontario Canada
Shannon Mercer, Christian, London
P James
Eric Hewitson, Member of the public, St John’s
David Barnard, London
Jessica Holsgrove
Sarah Watts-Read, Laity, Southwark
Peter Croom, Laity, Southwark
Deborah Riddell, Exeter
Joanna Cook
Mrs. Melanie Watts-Read, Laity, Southwark
Mr John Watts-Read, Laity, Southwark
Hannington Bugo
Simon Moore, Canterbury
Zi Ken Toh, Laity, PCC, Deanery Synod London
David Ruddock, Churchwarden, St Paul’s Church, Wokingham, Berks, Oxford
Anthony Henson, Lincoln
Ayla Barringer, Christian follower
Dr Carole Sherwood, Psychologist, Oxfordshire
Jeff Bloor, Lay person, St Peter's
Alex Tylecote, Laity
Slm Moorhouse
Andrew Forsyth, Churchwarden, Holy Trinity, East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent, Rochester
Stephen Horner, Exeter
Andrew Graham Thomas, Lay Preacher, St Andrews Fairlight, East Sussex, Chichester
Sarah Barnett, PhD student & concerned Christian, Newcastle upon Tyne, Wylam
Revd Lynda Rose, CEO Voice for Justice UK
Andrew Forsyth, Churchwarden, Holy Trinity, East Peckham, Tonbrdge, Kent, Rochester
Dr Deiniol Jones, Churchwarden Ely.
Joseph Houghton, Ordinand, St Mellitus college, Blackburn
Robin Brooke-Smith PhD, Parishioner St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury: Taylor Librarian at Shrewsbury School, Litchfield
Brian Eastty, Concerned Christian, Westcliff-on-Sea, Chelmsford
Lulu Lock
Louise Lockhart
Stephen Horner, Exeter
Camilla Hutchinson
Rev Andrew Gough, School Chaplain, Salisbury
Alireza Ghazi-Torbati, Laity, Exeter
Rob Hoinville, Deacon
Dena Riggall, BA Hons Theology 2019, RGN, Theologian MA student/ follower of Jesus, Winchester
Esther Counsell, PhD candidate, Cambridge, Ely
David Evans, Lay Person, Rochester