The specter of racism continues to haunt the hallowed halls of the Church of England, as a scathing new report lays bare the institution’s egregious failings in addressing racial disparities within its ranks. The racial justice commission’s six-month study, titled “Behind the Stained Glass,” pulls no punches in its indictment of the church’s “unabated” structural and institutional racism, which has systematically impeded the advancement of clergy of color.
Drawing upon extensive interviews with minority ethnic clergy and a thorough analysis of church hiring and promotion data, the report paints a damning picture of an institution mired in discriminatory practices and unconscious biases. The peer Paul Boateng, who chairs the commission, minced no words in his assessment, decrying the church’s “stark and shaming” failure to monitor racial disparities and implement effective strategies to combat them.
Unequal Opportunities and Cultural Barriers
The report’s findings lay bare the grim realities faced by clergy of color within the Church of England. Despite constituting 15% of applicants to clergy posts, black candidates accounted for a disproportionate 29% of rejections and withdrawals. In contrast, white clergy made up 75% of applicants but only 63% of those rejected or withdrawn.
Beyond the numbers, the report delves into the insidious cultural dynamics at play, noting that applicants of color often lack the “cultural capital” deemed necessary for career progression within the church. As one anonymous source revealed, “The church often values how one can conform to ‘English culture’, including speech, mannerisms, UK qualifications, and backgrounds, over diverse experiences and routes into the ministry.”
Rather than pay lip service to Black History Month, those exercising power and influence within the Church of England might make history by ending repeated failures to remedy the glaringly obvious defects in their practices which have held up over so many years the advancement of black people and other peoples of colour within their own ranks.
Lord Paul Boateng, Chair of the Church of England’s Racial Justice Commission
Overt Racism and Discriminatory Actions
The report’s revelations extend beyond mere statistics and cultural biases, however. Clergy of minority backgrounds bravely shared their firsthand experiences of overt racism, including discriminatory comments and actions perpetrated by congregations, dioceses, and even the national church’s own structures.
These disturbing accounts underscore the depth and pervasiveness of the problem, laying bare the urgent need for a comprehensive reckoning within the church. As theologian and broadcaster Robert Beckford astutely observed, “If the truth be told, similar patterns of discrimination exist within all of the major white-majority Christian churches in Britain.”
Calls for Urgent Reform and Accountability
In light of these damning findings, calls for urgent reform and accountability have grown increasingly strident. The archbishops of Canterbury and York, in a joint statement, reaffirmed their commitment to promoting racial justice within the church, expressing their hope and prayer that the institution will “become a place where everyone can thrive and flourish.”
However, as Beckford rightly notes, pious platitudes and half-measures will no longer suffice. He calls for a more ambitious and assertive approach to introducing diverse curricula in training and appointments, highlighting the paltry number of African and African Caribbean theologians currently teaching in British universities.
The need for this change is compelling, as to date, only three people of African and African Caribbean heritage teach theology in the British university system.
Robert Beckford, theologian and broadcaster
The Long Road Ahead
As the Church of England grapples with the sobering findings of this report, it is clear that the road ahead will be long and arduous. Dismantling centuries of entrenched racism and discrimination will require more than mere words and gestures; it will demand a fundamental reckoning with the institution’s past and present, a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, and a steadfast commitment to enacting meaningful, systemic change.
The eyes of the world will be watching closely as the Church of England navigates this crucial juncture in its history. Will it rise to the occasion, embracing the transformative power of racial justice and equity? Or will it remain mired in the shameful legacy of its past, forever tainted by the stain of institutional racism?
The road ahead may be daunting, but the imperative for change has never been more urgent. It is time for the Church of England to heed the clarion call of justice, to confront its demons head-on, and to forge a new path forward – one that truly embodies the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. Only then can it hope to heal the wounds of the past and build a brighter, more equitable future for all.
