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Lack of data on racial diversity in Church of England is criticised

08 November 2024

Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice

Image from the cover of the report Behind the Stained Glass

Image from the cover of the report Behind the Stained Glass

THE lack of comprehensive data on racial diversity in the Church of England is hampering progress, a report commissioned by the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice concludes.

The report, Behind the Stained-Glass, published this week, analyses data available from the C of E’s recruitment platform in the first part of this year, and from four dioceses. It also considers personal accounts from 109 individuals, and demographic data on ordinands.

Data collected from the C of E’s recruitment platform between January and April suggests that UKME/GMH* applicants were less likely to be appointed or shortlisted than white applicants.

The report, from the Institute for Educational and Social Equity, said, however, that more data were needed before a firm conclusion could be drawn.

Lord Boateng, who chairs the commission, focused on the the lack of data available — a criticism made in previous reports (News, 30 August).

“A stark and shaming picture of the inadequacy of information to chart the representation and progression of UKME clergy emerges that is anathema to success in tackling this issue of continuing underrepresentation and disadvantage,” Lord Boateng said.

Ordinand numbers were one of the few areas in which comprehensive data could be collected. They showed an increase in UKME/GMH ordinands between 2017 and 2023 — from six per cent to 13 per cent.

Data from the C of E recruitment platform, Pathways, from the start of the year, however, suggest that there is an discrepancy concerning the ratio of UKME/GMH applicants to those shortlisted or appointed.

About one quarter of the applicants between January and April were UKME/GMH — five per cent Asian, 15 per cent Black, and 2.7 per cent of mixed heritage — but of the 36 candidates shortlisted or offered posts, 33 were white, and only one was Asian, one Black, and one of mixed heritage.

The report calls for the recruitment process to be investigated in detail “to ascertain whether this is a statistical blip or indicative of systemic discrimination against UKME/GMH and especially Black applicants”.

Southwark is one of the few dioceses in which detailed demographic data on clergy have been collected. Currently, 83 per cent of the clerics in the diocese are white, but the report notes that this looks set to decrease, as white people make up only 61 per cent of ordinands and 71 per cent of curates.

Qualitative data from interviews revealed, the report said, a belief that theological education institutions (TEIs) “perpetuate institutional and structural racism through a predominantly white curriculum delivered by predominantly white staff”.

The report recommends that TEIs “intensify work on anti-racism and decolonising the curriculum and set out an integrated Action Plan around ethnic representation in leadership and staffing”.

It also calls on the C of E to collect, analyse, and report systematically on the demographic data of ministers, at national and diocesan level, and to establish “aspirational targets to increase the numbers of UKME/GMH people into ordained ministry”.

*of UK minoritised-ethnic/global majority heritage

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