Equality, diversity and inclusion strategy will be overseen by a new committee at the diocese.
Bishop Dave, who leads the diocese on EDI, said: “This new committee draws together into one team the various groups that have been doing excellent work on race, disability, women’s ministry and on supporting the LGBTQIA+ members of our church family and embeds them into the formal structures of the Diocese.
“At a time when progress on EDI is being very publicly slowed or reversed in some places, this team has an opportunity to demonstrate in words and action that every single person is precious to God and has a unique part to play in God’s plan through Jesus for the redemption of the world.”
During the committee’s first meeting its members celebrated some successes over the past year, which include:
- The Revd Hannah Lewis – (Chaplain amongst the Deaf Community): getting secondary school pupils at Mary Hare to write their own 10 commandments (My favourite was 'be iconic' - a way of expressing the importance of respecting yourself and therefore others).
- The Revd Polly Falconer (Racial Justice Adviser): engagement in racial justice, particularly from staff and some parishes.
- Hannah Ling (Social Justice Adviser): in the last year, the LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy has welcomed five new chaplains with a variety of lived experiences, and the team have conducted 20 sessions (Jan ‘24-March ’25) supporting LGBTQIA+ people, family members, and clergy.
- The Revd Kt Tupling (Disability Adviser): greater awareness at parish level of disability accessibility being more than just ‘getting people in’, with ‘joining in and belonging’ now having a growing importance.
Bishop Dave added: “I’m excited to see this group begin its work because it is a concrete example of our growing commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.”
The committee will be led by Bishop Dave and our Director of People Charnelle Stylianides.
Read more about our EDI work.