Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 November 1999

The Bishop of Southwark has called on black Anglicans, "Let's claim our Church, our birthright. Make this the foremost diocese in the country!" The Rt Rev Tom Butler urged black churchgoers to play a full part in the Church's structures, including offering themselves for ordination. He said he was ashamed to have seen West Indian immigrants being frozen out of church in the 50s, but challenged the present generation: "We can go forward together, and we don't have to keep looking back to those times."

He was addressing about 250 people at the diocesan Black Forum on Saturday 30 October in Stockwell, south London. The Bishop emphasised his determination to increase the numbers of black clergy and improve the proportion of black people serving on synods and committees in the parishes, deaneries and at diocesan level. Earlier this year he launched an inquiry into racial equality in the Diocese, which is due to report early in the new year.

Police Inspector Paul Wilson, Chair of the Black Police Officers Association, spoke on institutional racism. "Some believe that weeding out a few racist individuals will solve the problem. But that doesn't affect the long history of colonialism and poor treatment of immigrants." The Stephen Lawrence inquiry put the Metropolitan Police under intense scrutiny, he said, but other public bodies also needed to look at their underlying attitudes and structures. The Church was not exempt. "I was brought up believing Jesus Christ had long golden hair and pale skin. It helped produce a black sense of inferiority."

The Zimbabwe Youth Exchange Group reported on their visit to Southwark's twinned dioceses in Zimbabwe during July and August. One outcome is that they hope to send some computers for a training centre they visited.

The theme of the meeting was Looking Forward to the Third Millennium ... Building on our Achievements. Participants shared their experiences and hopes in a variety of topic groups, including Black People in Custody, Black and Asian Children in Care, and Black Vocations - A Call to Ministry.

Ralph Straker or Debbie Welch, 020-7403 6758; or Rev Lukas Wanjie, 020-8681 5496.

Ends

For further information contact: Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468