Church-goers Urged to Register as Members

30 Jan 2002

For immediate release

The Diocese of Southwark has embarked on a campaign urging all who attend church, especially from minority ethnic groups, to sign on the church electoral roll this year. Every six years the electoral roll - the closest thing that the Church of England has to a membership list - is completely revised. Even those who have been on the electoral roll before have to re-register.

This year, for the first time, an ethnic survey form will be attached to the Electoral Roll form. This will be used across the whole of the Church of England to find out authoritatively what proportion of the congregation is minority ethnic and how such members are represented in church governance structures. This survey resulted from a motion put to the General Synod by Southwark Diocese. Recognising diversity may lead to awareness of under representation and in turn to action to address it.

Southwark Diocese has sent out posters and leaflets to all churches across south London and east Surrey, and is holding five briefing meetings for clergy and lay officers between 30 January and 6 February. Parishes will make enrolment forms available locally between now and mid April.

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, is fully behind this campaign. He says: "We need people from all walks of life and all backgrounds to be active in church decision-making. Those on the electoral roll have a vote in the parish, and may be elected onto the parochial church council, deanery synod and diocesan synod, and even onto the General Synod. There are many specialist sub-committees as well, where people's skills and experience are very valuable."

Ends.