Church of England criticised for racial justice job paying twice a vicar’s salary! B
Role in Diocese of London currently being advertised with annual wage of £66,646
The Church of England has been criticised for advertising a “head of racial justice priority” vacancy on double the salary earned by vicars.
The role will be responsible for spearheading the creation of a “racially just church” in the Diocese of London and comes with an annual wage of £66,646.
The salary is more than double the £31,644 stipend received by parish priests in the diocese.
Positions responsible for “racial justice” have been rolled out in a number of Church of England dioceses in recent years as part of diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives.
The salary for the role in London appears to be the highest offered so far.
The Rev Marcus Walker, the rector of St Bartholomew the Great in the City of London, told The Telegraph that the annual contributions requested from parishes by the diocese – which can top six-figures – should not be spent on such high salaries.
“Dioceses can’t wave deficit-riddled accounts at parishes, demanding over £100,000 in parish share, and then pull this kind of salary out of nowhere,” he said.
A Church of England report in 2023 estimated that the total value of what vicars are given by the Church – including their vicarages, council tax bills and expenses – is between £47,000 and £62,000.
In the advertisement for the position, the Rt Rev Anderson Jeremiah, the Bishop of Edmonton, said the Church of England’s resources had to be used for “tangible action” so that it would become “more racially just”.
He said: “We are at a pivotal moment to commit our resources into tangible action, prayerfully enabling the Church to become more racially just.”
The job advert says the successful candidate will “foster a culture… built on love, fairness, equity, justice, collaboration and integrity” and facilitate “learning” on “the injustice and impact of racism”.
They will also “break down mental, cultural and institutional barriers… to engender true race equality” and help “address the historical legacy of slavery and challenge systemic racism”.
Responding to criticism over the role’s salary, the Rt Rev Mr Jeremiah said: “The issues of clergy pay and racial justice are entirely distinct. Clergy pay in the Church of England is being looked at very carefully at a national level.
“However, conflating these two issues undermines each of their importance to the Church, and detracts from the work underway to address them both as challenges.
“The Diocese makes no apologies for making racial justice a priority. Racial injustice is part of the history of this Diocese, and of the Church of England.
“If we want a safe and equitable church – whether in ministry, vocation or administration – credible change cannot be achieved in a vacuum. It requires concerted time, effort and resource. That is why this role is so important.”
Employing individuals in racial justice positions has ramped up in the Church of England following the establishment of the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice after the death of George Floyd in May 2020.
Roles have previously been advertised by the dioceses of York, Leeds, Chester, Birmingham and Sheffield, with salaries that range from £32,000 to £46,843 a year.
The Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, told the General Synod in February that Anglicans needed to “further embed racial justice” in the Church.
She told the Church’s governing body that it should not be afraid of being called “woke” after it approved a motion telling all parishes to draw up their own “race action plans”.
