Commission Task for Advancing Equality Based on Ethnicity

The Church of England has appointed Professor Mike Higton from the Department of Theology and Religion at an unspecified university to the Archbishops' Commission for Racial Justice. This commission, chaired by Dr. Jonathan Hustler, will work for the next three years to implement the recommendations of the "From Lament to Action" report and push forward the work of anti-racism across the Church.

Professor Higton's role in the commission is to ensure that expertise in anti-racism work is taken seriously around the Church. His contribution is likely to focus on theological education, an area he is familiar with, having served as the academic lead for the "Common Awards" scheme at Durham University, the validating institution for much of the Church of England's formal theological education.

The education provided by the Church of England should expose students to a wide variety of voices and cultures. To achieve this, the commission's focus is on embedding anti-racist work more deeply in the Church's educational culture. This involves examining curricula, pedagogy, assessment, institutional cultures, spaces for discussion, complaints processes, and more aspects of the theological education experience.

Professor Higton is also involved in questioning the educational experience offered to students by the Church's training institutions. He aims to promote an educational environment that is welcoming and diverse, one that encourages open discussions and learning from the expertise of those already involved in anti-racism work.

The commission will make use of existing material on decolonizing the curriculum and anti-racist pedagogy, including work happening at Durham University and partner institutions. More information can be found in the Church of England's announcement, the Department of Theology and Religion, and Professor Mike Higton's profile page.

The agenda requires interrogating existing practices, resources, and cultures that may inhibit diversity or perpetuate forms of marginalization and exclusion. The commission's task is to support good work on anti-racism wherever it is happening and ensure it spreads, rather than coming up with new ideas.

In April, the Church of England published a report titled "From Lament to Action," produced by the Archbishops' Anti-Racism Taskforce. This report outlines the steps the Church intends to take to address racial injustice within its ranks. The appointment of Professor Higton to the commission is a significant step towards implementing these recommendations.

The anti-racism agenda in the Church of England's theological education aims to make it welcoming and diverse for students from a Global Majority Heritage / UK Minority Ethnic background. This is a crucial step towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable Church.

Commission Task for Advancing Equality Based on Ethnicity