THE Racial Justice Board of the Church of England has expressed “deep concern and disquiet” about the Archbishops’ Council’s decision to reduce funding for racial-justice work from £20 million in 2023-25 to £7 million for 2026-29.

In a letter to the Church Times, the board members, who include the co-lead bishops for racial justice, the Bishop of Croydon, Dr Rosemarie Mallett, and the Bishop of Kirkstall, the Rt Revd Arun Arora, say that the “lamentable” decision was taken “despite the changing social context in the country over the ten months” since the Triennium Funding Working Group (TFWG) made its original decision (News, 13 June).

“During that time, we have seen in our country rising racial tensions, arguably the worst for decades; increasing incidents of racial violence; and the impact of the Unite the Kingdom March,” the letter says. “These funding decisions have been made despite overwhelming support from the General Synod for continuing and strengthening the Church’s commitment to racial justice as a long-term priority and the maintenance of current funding levels.”

The board’s 11 signatories point out that the original allocation of £20 million for racial-justice work during the 2023-25 triennium “reflected the Church’s intention at that time to treat this work as long-term and foundational rather than short-term or temporary”.

They also say that the final report of the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice highlighted that many previous attempts to address racial justice in the Church had failed “because commitments had not been followed through, funding had been inconsistent, or support had been withdrawn too early”. The current reduction in funding, the letter says, risks repeating those patterns.

“This decision will undermine the work of racial justice in the dioceses of the Church of England,” the authors write.

“We view the decisions of the TFWG and the Archbishops’ Council as a backward movement shifting from action back to lament, undermining the gains that have been made, and frustrating the work of racial justice in the Church. These decisions signify a deep lack of commitment to this gospel work and miss a vital mission opportunity for the Church of England at a time when it is desperately needed in our country.”

When asked to comment, Church House, Westminster, referred to the recent statement announcing the funding.