The Church of England should launch an investigation into systemic racism within its structures, one of a handful of BAME bishops has said.
“Such a review may well be painful but it is overdue,” said Guli Francis-Dehqani, the bishop of Loughborough, who was appointed in 2017 with specific responsibility to support BAME clergy and congregations in the diocese of Leicester.
In an article to be published in Thursday’s edition of the Church of England Newspaper, Francis-Dehqani will say it is time for transparency within the church. A review “will expose the extent of racism that has seeped into our structures and organisation, and will enable us effectively to address issues and move purposefully into a future with greater justice and equality”.
The church must not “miss the chance to do the right thing, begin making amends and find a better way”.
Her comments come amid accusations of hypocrisy by C of E leaders for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd while there is discrimination within the church.
Earlier this week, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, tweeted: “The racism that people in this country experience is horrifying. The church has failed here, and still does, and it’s clear what Jesus commands us to do: repent and take action.”
In February, he told the church’s ruling body, the General Synod: “When we look at our own church, we are still deeply institutionally racist. Let’s be clear about that.”
He added: “I’m ashamed of our history and I’m ashamed of our failure … I’m ashamed of my lack of urgent voice to the church.”
Francis-Dehqani, who is of Iranian heritage, also backed a public inquiry into the disproportionate number of BAME people who have died of coronavirus in the UK. The government should “outline clearly what steps will be taken to tackle racial prejudice more widely and challenge the culture of discrimination,” she said.
There were sometimes “moments in history when one event becomes a turning point”, she said. “Events converge and that moment becomes a catalyst for long and lasting change. A line is crossed and there is no going back … Only time will tell whether Floyd’s death will be such a moment but I hope and pray so.”
