Black Durham trainee vicar denied job at 'white' church.

[LittleOgres]

In case anyone is still under the illusion that racism doesn't occur in every day place in the UK, [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-53064929 here]] you go.
The mind boggles that some one thought like this, perhaps talked it over with others, and then thought I know the best course of action to take here.
How and why, in this day and age, could this have happened? I really find it amazing, and sad. Hopefully the people involved in the 'white' church will have learned something.

Pretty much underscores all I have every thought about the hypocrisy of organised religion. Who the fuck would want to join that "club" ?

It's deeply ironic that it's practising "Christians" that are in need of some remedial work here.

Yes, the irony of that struck me also, DGRossetti.

I can't see the CofE surviving another generation

Wow. Isn’t this against the law?

Wow, look at that.

Love thy neighbour, but only if you "match"!

Not one for this particular expression but- that's not very "Christian" of them.

I'm guessing it's one of those aging, dwindling congregations who wants their church to grow but only if the growth is the right sort of people.

It’s so transparent what they’re doing. Saying it’s for his “comfort” - surely that’s for him to decide not them? And the daftness of writing it so clearly in an email. What century are these leaders living in?

There's two issues here for me. One is the hideous systemic racism that prompted the decision not to appoint. But to actually say it, something illegal and deeply distasteful, shows breathtaking ignorance.

Wow

I heard him being interviewed on the radio about this - but it was a random time overnight or early morning, and I really hoped I'd dreamt it.

Really frighteningly extraordinary that they clearly thought he might never have encountered anyone white before. After two degrees at Durham ...

Not sure which is worse, this case or Chris Patten thinking black people should shut up and be grateful for Rhodes Scholarships that bring them to English universities. Never thinking that without apartheid and its wider effects people across the world would have an infinitely fairer access to decent education at all levels and international scholarships would not be doing the work of reparation.

I think the CofE is a big organisation, and big organisations make mistakes. To cherry pick out this incident and then say that Racism is rife in the CofE is ridiculous.
In my experience, it's working very hard to deal with racism.
Just take the time to actually look into recent pronouncements and policies from the Church instead of jumping to conclusions.

It doesn't mean it is through and through racist but it does mean it is there and it certainly won't be contained in that one small pocket of the church.

We are a racist country and the sooner we accept that there is so much to be done (not just not be a racist but take action) the better.

@MaMaLa321, that is a ridiculously apologist post, and also contradicts what the C of E Head of Ministry said in his apology. Which wasn’t ‘The C of E is inclusive! You just encountered a couple of individual bad apples!’

OK, carry on with your 5 minutes hate.

@mamala321 come on, this can’t be the first time you’ve encountered racism in the church. We had a retired vicar cover sickness and for some reason he chose to talk in his sermon about his experience with ‘West Indian Black men’ in East London. It was an incredibly awkward half hour.

Not just racist but it also suggests an irrelevant and out of touch organisation.

I don't do God. But if I did, he's exactly the sort of person I'd want as my vicar. Seems to have too much happiness for one person and it spills over the top. Much like the Dalai Lama is a fantastic advert for Buddhism - I've never seen a photo where he isn't smiling. A wonderful warm human smile.

Their loss.

(It's also sobering to think that in terms of appearance he is probably much more like what Jesus looked like than someone who's never left the North East of England .... )

Maybe there is a God ? This popped up on my FB as I pressed "send" ..

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1464209/Borders-folk-may-be-descended-from-Africans.html

Families who have lived in the English-Scottish Borders for generations could be descended from African soldiers who patrolled Hadrian's Wall nearly 2,000 years ago.

Archaeologists say there is compelling evidence that a 500-strong unit of Moors manned a fort near Carlisle in the third century AD.

Richard Benjamin, an archaeologist at Liverpool University who has studied the history of black Britons, believes many would have settled and raised families.

(contd)

Presumably, those parishioners will be horrified when this is read to them ?

OK, carry on with your 5 minutes hate.

That's really the best you can come up with?

I think the CofE is a big organisation, and big organisations make mistakes

hardly a great advert for someone to entrust with your immortal soul is it ? Pray CoE to (hopefully) get to Heaven ?

Why, it's almost like organised religion has nothing to do with spirituality at all !

DGRossetti - that article is from 2004!

But no doubt the person who posted it thought it deserved re-reading. It does.

that article is from 2004!

Oh, I know. FB analytics and all.

I was just amusing that it popped up when this was being discussed. If I did believe in God, I would have taken it as a Sign ....

Ahhh reminds me of the brilliant song in Book of Morman which points out the idiocy of all organised religion.

I was taught by my parents that organised religions were set up to control and corral first women, and then the native people of lands white man colonised. It give an entirely different perspective.

ver since I was a child
I tried to be the best...
So what happened?
My family and friends all said I was blessed...
so what happened?

It was supposed to be all so exciting.
To be teaching of Christ across the sea.
But I allowed my faith to be shaken-
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed to help the needy.
To do the things I never dared.
This was the time for me to step up.
So then why was I so scared?

A warlord that shoots people in the face.
What's so scary about that?
I must trust that my Lord is mightier,
And always has my back.
Now I must completely devout
I can't have even one shred of doubt!

I believe-
That the Lord God created the universe.
I believe-
That he sent his only son to die for my sins.
And I believe-
That ancient Jews built boats and sailed
to America.
I am a Mormon.
And a Mormon just believes.

You cannot just believe part-way.
You have to believe in it all.
My problem was doubting
the Lord's will.
Instead of standing tall.
I can't allow myself to have any doubt.

It's time to set my worries free.
Time to show the world
What Elder Price is about.
And share the power inside of me!

I believe-
That God has a plan for all of us.
I believe-
That plan involves
Me getting my own planet.
And I believe
That the current President of the church,
Thomas Monson, speaks, directly to God.
I am a Mormon and, dang it,
A Mormon just believes.

CHORUS
A Mormon just believes.

ELDER PRICE
I know that I must go and do-
The things my God commands.

CHORUS
Things my God commands.

ELDER PRICE
I realize now why he sent me here!
If you ask the Lord in faith
He will always answer you just believe
In him and have no fear.

GUARD
(spoken) General! We have an intruder! He just walked right into camp!

ELDER PRICE
I believe!!!
That Satan has a hold of you.
I believe!
That the Lord God has sent me here!
And I believe that in 1978 God changed his mind about black people!!

CHORUS
Black People!!

ELDER PRICE
You can be a Mormon!
A Mormon who just believes.

GENERAL
(spoken) The fuck is this?

ELDER PRICE
And now I can feel the excitement.
This is the moment I was born to do.
And I feel so incredible-
to be sharing my faith with you.
The scriptures say that if you ask in faith,
If you ask God himself you'll know.
But you must ask him without any doubt,
And let your spirit grow!

CHORUS
Let your spirit grow!

ELDER PRICE
I believe!
That God lives on a planet called Kolob!
I believe!
That Jesus has his own planet as well.
And I believe
That the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, Missouri.

If you believe,
The Lord will reveal it.
And you'll know it's all true-
You'll just feel it.

You'll be a Mormon!!!
And by gosh-
A Mormon just belieeeeeeeeves!!!!
Oh, I believe!
I believe!

CHORUS
Believe!

[Thanks to Justin Alves for lyrics]

I think the CofE is a big organisation, and big organisations make mistakes. To cherry pick out this incident and then say that Racism is rife in the CofE is ridiculous.
In my experience, it's working very hard to deal with racism.
Just take the time to actually look into recent pronouncements and policies from the Church instead of jumping to conclusions

That is exactly why it is shocking. How could this happen in an organisation like the C of E, that in theory should be on top of issues like racism? This isn't just some random person writing the letter, it is somebody with responsibility for hiring clergy.

I don't think it shows that the C of E is more racist than other organisations, I think it shows how prevalent racism still is.

He could take them to tribunal.