Plans to elect clergy from UK Minority Ethnic or Global Majority Heritage backgrounds to serve on the House of Bishops have been agreed in what is hoped will be a ‘catalyst for change’ towards making the leadership of the Church of England more representative.
Bishop-elect of Loughborough, Revd Saju Muthalaly, and Bishop-elect of Willesden, Revd Canon Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, will be among those taking part.
Under the scheme, which has just been approved by a Committee of the House, there would be at least 10 people from UKME/GMH backgrounds taking part in meetings of the House – either as existing members or new “participant observers” – later this spring.
The House of Bishops – which is both part of the General Synod and a body in its own right – is made up of the most senior bishops in the Church, including all of the diocesan bishops and some elected suffragans.
At present there are just four bishops from minority ethnic backgrounds in the House, out of 53 places. Under the plans the House will ensure three are always at least 10 people from minority ethnicity present, either as members as of right, or as suffragan bishops appointed as observers, or as clergy elected as observers. The plan will involve three other suffragans, including two recently nominated as bishops, being invited to join the House as participant observers, as well as three other priests to be elected by serving UKME/GMH clergy.
Bishop-elect of Loughborough, Revd Saju Muthalaly, said:
"The voice, perspectives, wisdom and the presence of 10 UK Minority Ethnic/ Global Majority Heritage in the House of Bishops will play a part in the change that we seek in becoming a faithful Christ-centred church. The change we seek to see has to do with the integrity of the gospel we seek to proclaim and live by. It will be a tremendous privilege to be one of the participative observers and discern together what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches."
Further details on the nomination process will be announced shortly. It is expected that the process will be complete by May.
The idea of participant observers in the House of Bishops was recommended in From Lament to Action, the report of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce, which was published in April last year. It was based on temporary provision introduced in 2013 under which women first took part in meetings of the House ahead of legislation opening the way for the female bishops.
Canon Dr Sanjee Perera, the Archbishops' Adviser on Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns, said:
“We are pleased to report progress from the House on this From Lament To Action recommendation and be able to celebrate having 10 people of UK Minority Ethnic/ Global Majority Heritage in the House of Bishops with the arrival of the ‘Participant observers’ in a few months. We hope this will create a catalyst for change that will enrich the Church according to the calling of the gospel.”
The plans have been agreed by the Standing Committee of the House of Bishops.
Read more about the elections for Participant Observers to the House.
From Lament To Action recommended: One UKME/GMH clergy elected from each region to attend meetings of the House of Bishops as participant observers for three year periods until such time as there are six UKME/GMH bishops able to sit as members of the House.
The plans as agreed would involve electing three UKME/GMH members of the clergy and inviting three UKME/GMH bishops to serve as participant observers. Taken together with the four UKME/GMH bishops who are currently members of the House, this will ensure a total of ten.
