by Tom Cotterill, Telegraph
Diocese awarded £730k for diversity initiatives, including education on Anglican links to slavery
Clergy in London will be encouraged to preach anti-racism in sermons as part of a diversity drive.
The Diocese of London has been awarded £730,000 to boost inclusion as part of a three-year Racial Justice Priority (RJP) project to boost inclusion.
The initiative has been launched despite concerns the Church of England is alienating parishioners and diverting money from struggling churches by focusing on issues such as slavery.
The Rt Rev Dr Anderson Jeremiah, the Bishop of Edmonton and the Diocese of London’s lead bishop on racial justice, said the project would foster a “sense of belonging for all”.
“Whether it’s Bible studies, baptismal preparations, confirmation preparations or sermons, what we would like to actively promote is racial justice as one of the ways of engaging with the challenges of the Church, through resources that can be used in these spaces,” he told The Guardian.
The RJP money will be put towards supporting educational initiatives – in churches and Church schools – about church buildings’ links to transatlantic slavery.
Worship venues will also receive cash to support refugees and asylum seekers, and will be tasked with promoting diversity in leadership.