A report on institutional racism in Church of England concluded that there was a “lack of leadership diversity” in the Church which prevented ethnic minorities to reach senior roles.
The Behind the Stained-Glass Report was commissioned by the Racial Justice Commission of the CofE in order to examine the levels of participation of people of UK minority ethnic heritage and their lived experiences within the Church.
The CofE is facing accusations of racism since some time. a taskforce will be set up in 2021 for improving diversity.
The Institute for Educational & Social Equity conducted the study. It concluded that “senior positions are primarily occupied by males of white race” and that “biased hiring and promotion processes, and stereotyping, remain a problem.”
Many ethnic minorities do not have role models in the church who are like them, and find it difficult to imagine themselves moving up.
It found that many of them face “significant challenges”, such as not being able financially to support themselves, or not having the support of their congregations.
The report also stated that ethnic minorities felt that they lacked the “cultural capital” to help them progress in their careers, and that the “class and culture dynamics” were preventing their advancement within the Church.
It added that ethnic minorities in the Church are often stereotyped, and they’re expected to conform to certain behaviors.
The report stated that “this has led to white people being unable to take on additional leadership roles, which has adversely affected their career advancement opportunities.”
The commission found that despite these challenges many individuals displayed “significant personal resiliency and a strong feeling of vocation”.
The report also noted positive trends in certain dioceses. It singled out Birmingham, Liverpool, and Southwark for being proactive in collecting data to examine the racial composition of their clergy.
The report recommends all dioceses to implement a Diocesan Anti-Racism Plan. This plan should include measures for “systematically collecting” demographic data about those who are in their ministry.
The report also recommends that diocesan authorities implement a policy of “zero toleration” towards “overt or subtle” forms of racial bias.
Director of the Institute for Educational & Social Equity Professor Paul Miller said that the report confirms “the existence” of “deep-seated inequities within Church structures.
He added, “We hope that these findings will prompt necessary and long overdue changes.”
Lord Boateng said, “This report provides irrefutable proof of the impact that the Church’s data gap has on racial injustice.” It is time for meaningful changes, based on transparent data and accountable practice.
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