16th May 2022
The Revd Canon Dr Chigor Chike, Vicar of Emmanuel Forest Gate and Chair of the Anglican Minority Ethnic Network, has been elected to serve on the House of Bishops as a participant observer.
Chigor’s election was announced at the same time as the Revd Canon Arun Arora, co-chair of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Tasforce and the Revd Shemil Matthew, Vice Dean of Emmanual Theological College.
Their election is part of action towards making the leadership of the Church of England more representative and brings the number of people from UKME/GMH heritage on the House of Bishops to 11, with eight bishops – one diocesan (the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani) and seven suffragans (including the Bishop of Bradwell, the Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath) – either members or participant observers.
Under the scheme, approved earlier this year by a Committee of the House, at least 10 UKME/GMH people will take part in meetings of the House – either as existing members or “participant observers”.
Commenting on his election, The Revd Canon Dr Chigor Chike said:
“This scheme is an important step in the right direction, and I very much welcome the opportunity to serve as a participant observer on the House of Bishops. As participant observers we will not have a vote, but we will have a voice and I hope we will be able to help steer direction. I also hope and pray that the use of participant observers for this purpose will only be temporary because the Church of England moves to have greater numbers of people of UKME/GMH heritage who are full members of the House of Bishops and in other leadership roles“.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani welcomed Chigor’s election:
“I’m delighted Chigor will be joining the House of Bishops as a participant observer. He has already played a hugely important role, in our own Diocese and across the Church of England, shining a light on the need for us to improve representation and to tackle racism.
“The wisdom and experience that he and the other participant observers will bring to the House of Bishops will be vital in shaping discussions and decisions. I hope it will help to make the leadership of the Church of England, at all levels, more representative of the communities we serve.”
The scheme was backed following the publication of From Lament to Action, the report of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce in April last year. It called for UKME/GMH participant observers to attend the House of Bishops until such time as there are six UKME/GMH bishops able to sit as members.
The recommendation was based on temporary provision introduced in 2013 under which women first took part in meetings of the House ahead of legislation opening the way for female bishops.
In separate action in line with recommendations from From Lament to Action, new members from UKME/GMH backgrounds will be elected to serve on the Houses of Clergy and Laity in time for the General Synod meeting in York later this year.
ENDS
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