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The Equal Opportunities Committee was formed in 1994 to:-

a) develop detailed equal opportunities policies

b) have oversight of training programmes in equal opportunities

c) monitor the implementation of the equal opportunities policy

d) report annually to the General Assembly on the implementation of the policy.

Convener: Mrs Susan Rand Secretary: Revd Simon Walkling, Revd Wilf Bahadur, Mrs Daphne Beale, Mr Hilary Gunn (staff link), Revd Nanette Head, Ms Lucille King, Revd John Macauley, Ms Georgette Margett.

1.1 We have been very pleased to welcome Revd Marjorie Lewis-Cooper to our meetings whenever she has been able to ‘touch base’ between her visit the Provinces. We look forward with anticipation to her conclusions and to learn from her experiences. John Macaulay and Wilf Bahadur serve on the management committee for the post

2.1 ‘A Church For All’ - Multi-Racial Network Day was held in November at the Arthur Rank Centre. It was attended by people from all over the country with an interest in multi-racial issues. Revd Marjorie Lewis-Cooper gave a theological perspective, Revd Michael Cruchley (United Reformed Church’s Rural Consultant) spoke on Rural Racism and Revd John Macaulay (United Reformed Church minister in Upper Clapton) spoke on The Urban Setting and The Vision of an Integrated Church. Following workshops in the afternoon a number of people expressed a willingness to form a core group to further the work of a multi racial network. The Revd Marjorie Lewis-Cooper is convening the initial meetings. We were very grateful to Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin (Officer for Black Concerns in the Anglican Diocese of Lichfield) for being our Observer and for the report that she produced. Copies of a report of the day and the Observer’s comments can be obtained by writing to our secretary.

3.1 It is clear that there is a concern and interest about ministry by and for people with learning difficulties. The committee hope to do more work in this area. BUild is a specialist group of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and has been in existence since Autumn 1984. Since then it has developed a nationwide and international network of contacts. This brings together people from a variety of Christian denominations. One of their aims is to ‘develop the awareness of Christians and churches and their ability to respond positively to the presence, gifts and needs of people with learning disabilities’. We hope to look into ways that we can work together. To find out more about BUild contact the secretary, Revd Siôr Coleman,
12 Barford Crescent, Birmingham B38 0BH.

4.1 It is important that everyone involved in assessment, placing and movement and training of ministers of the Word and Sacraments and Church Related Community Workers should be trained in equal opportunity issues. To this end we are in conversation with the Training Committee about the provision of such training. We hope that we will be able to report more to Assembly 1999.

5.1 The Committee wishes to thank Daphne Beale and John Macaulay for all their work on the committee and looks forward to welcoming their replacements.

1.1 For some time the committee has been looking at ways of developing detailed equal opportunities policies. Work has already been done by other committees on the employment of ministers of the Word and Sacraments and Church Related Community Workers. As we have received a number of requests from local churches for detailed guidance on equal opportunities issues we decided to start there. We believe that we are all important to God, that God loves us all and that as Christians we try to follow God’s will. However, as humans beings with human failings, we often organise our lives, practices and institutions in such a way that barriers are put up. This is not usually on purpose and they are difficult to identify unless we happen to be the person who has to jump the extra hurdle or shout louder to get their voice heard. This is why it is important to have a set of guidelines to help us avoid erecting unconscious barriers to those around us.

1.2 We want to make the document as widely known as possible and would welcome suggestions as how to do this without increasing the mountain of paper sent to church secretaries. The report ‘Equal Opportunities Policy for Local Churches’ is reproduced in this book of Reports as Appendix 1.