Vol 4/3
April
1999

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Putting our own house in order

Independent inquiry to look at racial equality in diocesan structures

Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark, has launched an independent inquiry to look into the structures of the Diocese in the light of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report.

The Macpherson Report's definition of institutional racism in the police force prompted the Bishop, in consultation with the three Area Bishops, to invite the Commission for Racial Equality to participate in an independent body to investigate.

Bishop Tom announced the plan at the meeting of the Southwark Diocesan Synod on Saturday 13 March. In the debate which followed many members spoke of their own experiences of racism and those of friends and families. The proposal was agreed overwhelmingly. Meanwhile, he is seeking to foster and enable more clergy vocations from black Anglicans and to increase black representation on all boards, councils and committees of the Diocese.

Race awareness training is to be arranged for senior staff and Bishop Tom wants to see such training become part and parcel of every level of diocesan life.

In his presidential address to the Synod, he spoke of the inequalities black people experience in the police, in education and in nursing, and said, "And then there's the Church. Are we any better? No we are not, and yet there are two reasons why we should be even more concerned about institutionalised racism than other organisations.

"First, our base commandments tell us to love God with all our hearts and mind and soul and love our neighbour as ourselves - it doesn't mention whether that love should be of a different quality depending upon the colour of our neighbour's skin. "Secondly we're concerned because we are, in fact, a multi-ethnic church. "The Church of England indeed has more black members than any other major denomination in this land, and to my delight, many of them are worshipping here in the Diocese of Southwark."

Bishop Tom expects the inquiry, comprised of people from outside of Diocesan structures, to report by the end of the year.

Reflections on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry is this month's Bridge Profile

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The full printed edition of the 'Bridge' newspaper is available at all Southwark Parish Churches
Further copies can be obtained from wendy.s.robins@southwark.anglican.org
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