St Edmundsbury Cathedral engage with Black Lives Matter in creating anti-racism agenda
St Edmundsbury Cathedral's leadership is striving to create an anti-racist environment, acknowledging the 'disadvantages' people of colour face in Britain.
The Bury St Edmunds institution has today released a statement following a review after Black Lives Matter rallies in the town last year.
The statement, which falls in the same week of Derek Chauvin's conviction of murdering George Floyd, also admits the disadvantages of non-whites within the Church of England.
The statement adds: “We, the Chapter of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, acknowledge the unveiling of the systemic racism hidden within institutions and society, from a county-wide level to a country-wide level and beyond in western culture.
"We begin to see where Global Majority Heritage (people of colour) are at a disadvantage in almost all areas of our common life together in Britain – in wealth, healthcare, housing, criminal justice, surveillance, employment and education, social care and the arts.
"We also acknowledge the great disadvantages that GMH people are subject to within the Church of England."
“(We are committed) to create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our staff, volunteers and congregation are recognised and valued.”
The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, said Cathedral leaders have engaged with Black Lives Matter over the wording of the statement.
He said: "Our prayerful hope is that we build a diverse and universal faith community that embraces all that God has to offer us through each of God’s children, and that truly all will be one in Christ
Jesus."
The Cathedral is building on an ambition to educate themselves about systemic racism, encounter the diversity of worship, mission and ministry that people of colour bring, and experience the fruits of those relationships in building new and lasting traditions.
The Right Reverend Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, said: “I welcome this statement from the Cathedral, recognising the systemic racism within society and the commitment to work towards lasting change.
"I know this statement comes after a period of reflection and discussion following the demonstrations we saw in Suffolk as part of the global Black Lives Matter movement."
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