Equal Opportunities
Committee Updated Policy
The URC Equal Opportunities
Policy was first approved by General Assembly in 1994. Since then the
law relating to discrimination has extended in its terms and scope
considerably. This has included:
-
Amendments to the Sex
Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976
-
Disability
Discrimination Act 1995
-
Sex Equality (Gender
Reassignment) Regulations 1999 extending the scope of the Sex
Discrimination Act
-
Employment Equality
(Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
-
Employment Equality
(Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
-
Employment Equality
(Age) Regulations 2006
Therefore at its meeting in
October 2006, Mission Council recognised that given our duty as an
employer, the URC Equal Opportunities Policy should be updated to
reflect the changes in discrimination legislation[1].
The updated URC Equal
Opportunities can be found below.
The Equal Opportunities
Committee will now work on and produce guidelines/procedures to assist
all in implementing the policy.
Together lets move from Law
to Love!
MMM
Convenor, Equal
Opportunities Committee
November 2006
moragmmclintock@hotmail.com
[1] In terms of Resolution 17
passed at General Assembly 2005 namely
General Assembly resolves that Mission Council, acting in
the name of General Assembly, shall have the authority by a
single resolution of that council to make as and when necessary
and with immediate effect such changes to any part of the Equal
Opportunities policy as are, on the advice of the legal advisors
to the United Reformed Church, required to bring that policy
into line with the general law of the land consequent upon any
changes in legislation and/or case law
Equal Opportunities Policy
Introduction
The United Reformed Church
believes that all people are created in God’s image and are loved by
God. In his ministry Jesus showed God’s love by his openness to all
people, including those who were marginalised in his day.
Statement of intent
The United Reformed Church
affirms its commitment to show the same openness to all people in
today’s world. It intends in spirit and in deed to promote equality of
opportunity and diversity in all spheres of its activity and is
committed to behaving as an equal opportunity organisation. It
acknowledges that people are called to be diverse and lively, inclusive
and flexible through the sharing of the gospel.
Equal Opportunities and
Diversity Policy Statement
Exclusion and
discrimination can occur on many grounds including those recognised in
law, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religious beliefs,
colour, ethnic or national origin, age, marital status and disability.
The United Reformed Church seeks to eradicate less favourable treatment
in these areas by endeavouring to:
-
Build inclusive
communities where all will be treated with dignity and respect and
have equality of opportunity to contribute their gifts to the common
life;
-
Identify and remove
barriers to participation in employment, training, promotion,
leadership and representation on church committees and in the
attitudes and actions of every congregation;
-
Take positive action to
counter attitudes and practices contrary to this statement of intent
;
-
Define within the law
when being of a particular religion or belief is or is not a
requirement for any post within the church.
-
Develop detailed
policies to give effect to these requirements; and Monitor and
report on progress in fulfilling these requirements.
This policy is the
overarching equality and diversity direction of the United Reformed
Church and should be read in conjunction with The United Reformed
Church’s declaration that it is a multicultural church and its equality
policies on employment, church activities, membership, committees and
councils.
October 2006
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