The Diocese of Bristol recognises its responsibility to make racial justice a reality throughout our community. We are committed to proactively establishing and reinforcing attitudes, practices and actions that create equitable opportunities, access, and treatment for all. Moreover, as followers for Christ, we cannot stand by while racial justice persists. Like the Good Samaritan, we must step across barriers of prejudice and fear to love our neighbours fully, advocating for a world where everyone is seen, respected, and valued.
To that end, as part of our broader 'Transforming Church. Together' (TCT) vision, we have created a Racial Justice Strategy, a fundamental aspect of our mission to transform our community and culture, ensuring that every action reflects our dedication to social transformation, witness, and worship.
Our commitment
The events of 2020 – including the racially motivated killing of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter protests, and the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol – highlighted the clear and urgent need for the Church to act swiftly in addressing the issues of racism and prejudice within its own institution without further delay. In response, the Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, made commitments on behalf of the Diocese of Bristol to address these issues, starting: “I will now act with a renewed sense of urgency and determination to:
- Acknowledge and repent of the Church’s past involvement in and benefit from the slave trade;
- Challenge and address institutional racism, listening to and learning from the experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people;
- Recruit and support more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic clergy, staff and volunteers;
- Make our churches truly welcoming to everyone, taking responsibility for the need for profound cultural change in our Church;
- Work with others in the Diocese of Bristol and the Church of England to bring these things about”
Building a Just Church: Our strategic priorities in action
In alignment with recommendations outlined by From Lament to Action report published in 2021 by the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce, and the commitments made by Bishop Viv, the Diocese of Bristol’s Racial Justice Strategy involves actionable steps to drive change with the following goals in mind:
Our goal is to promote understanding and reconciliation with contested heritage across the diocese, foster cultural transformation and inclusivity, and lead efforts in restorative justice. We aim to build a comprehensive narrative around reparations and memorialisation, establish strong community partnerships, build an equitable future with UK Minority Ethnic / Global Majority Heritage (UKME / GMH) community members within our diocese, ensuring that our history is addressed honestly and inclusively.
Our goal is to cultivate a culture of continuous learning, understanding, and allyship around anti-racist behaviours across the diocese. We aim to develop and sustain intercultural worship communities that reflect our diverse congregations and commit to anti-racism advocacy, diversity, and inclusion, creating a welcoming environment for UKME and GMH clergy, lay ministers, and community members.
Our goal is to diversify the diocese's governance structures and boards by ensuring strong representation from the UKME/GMH community across all leadership roles and levels. We aim to build a diverse talent pool within the diocese, encompassing Diocesan Support Services (DSS), Clergy, Lay Ministers, and Laity, and to foster a culture where understanding, inclusion and belonging are central to all activities.
Our goal is to create a culture in the Diocese of Bristol that attracts, develops, retains, and fully engages the talents of UKME/GMH and other marginalised communities. We are committed to embodying, promoting, and actively living out the anti-racist values outlined in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Anti-Racism Taskforce report.
Our goal is to educate the next generation of youth about historical and current racial injustices perpetuated by the Church, aiming to inspire cultural change and transformation. We also seek to diversify schools within the Diocese of Bristol by ensuring representation, involvement, and inclusion of UKME/GMH students, fostering an environment of inclusion and belonging.
We recognise that genuine progress requires the active participation, support, and collaboration of the UKME/GMH community. To avoid repeating past mistakes, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for co-creation with our brothers and sisters within the UKME/GMH community, to ensure their voices are heard and ensure they have a central role in guiding our actions. By doing so, we commit to transparency, accountability, and fostering an environment where everyone feels represented and valued.
Why this matters
As a Diocese, we acknowledge the painful history of racism, and the legacy of transatlantic chattel slavery and its continuing impact. We are committed to transformative and sustainable change, recognising that addressing this sinful legacy is a vital part of our spiritual and communal life. This strategy provides the framework for achieving a just and inclusive Church that truly reflects God’s love for all people.
Join us in this journey
We invite everyone in our community to engage with this important work. Whether through prayer, participation, or advocacy, there are many ways to be involved. Together, we can build a Church that embodies the values of justice, equality, and love. For more information or to get involved, please contact us at racialjustice@bristoldiocese.org
A culture of inclusion, collaboration and partnership working, to grow our faith is central to the culture change we are trying to implement with our 'Transforming Church. Together' strategy.
For information on our work towards improved racial justice within Bristol Diocese, visit our approach to culture change page.
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