From Prebendary John Root

Sir, — Your report of the presentation by the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC) and related questions and answers (General Synod, 17 July) was rather downbeat and forlorn.

None the less, note should be taken of the more upbeat introduction from the Bishop of Chelmsford, and more especially of the visionary and ambitious raft of initiatives for action from Chelmsford diocese set out in Appendix 1 of Dr Elizabeth Henry’s written report to the Synod.

Chelmsford’s programme needs both to be monitored more widely to see what works and what doesn’t work in what is necessarily a pioneering development, and to be appropriated as suitable by other dioceses, whose contributions to the Appendix were either less developed or (more usually) non-existent.

The disappointing lack of progress towards becoming a confidently and visibly multi-ethnic Church which the Synod was made aware of can be countered only by initiatives backed with vigorous episcopal support, honest scrutiny of their effectiveness, and the replication of effective practice across the whole Church. I hope that CMEAC can facilitate this.

JOHN ROOT
42 Newlyn Road
London N17 6RX