Church to pay 'racial justice' head double the salary of vicars

The Church of England is controversially advertising for a 'head of racial justice priority' vacancy on double the salary earned by vicars.

Responsible for spearheading the creation of a 'racially just church' in the Diocese of London, the role comes with an annual wage of £66,646.

It is more than double the salary of parish priests in the diocese, who earn £31,644, and appears to be the highest offered for the role in London so far.

The CoE has rolled out a number of positions responsible for 'racial justice' in recent years as part of diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives.

Reverend Marcus Walker, the rector of St Bartholomew the Great in the City of London, has criticised the move. He claims 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 told The Telegraph.

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It was estimated in a 2023 Church of England report 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.

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'.

Speaking in the advertisement for the position, he stated: 'We are at a pivotal moment to commit our resources into tangible action, prayerfully enabling the Church to become more racially just.'

The successful candidate will 'foster a culture… built on love, fairness, equity, justice, collaboration and integrity', the job advert says, 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'. 

Rt Rev Mr Jeremiah said the issues of clergy pay and racial justice are 'entirely distinct' and stated the former was being looked at 'very carefully' by the Church of England.

He added that conflating these two issues 'undermines each of their importance to the Church' and takes away 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,' he said.

'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.'

Following the establishment of the Archbishops' Commission for Racial Justice after the death of George Floyd in May 2020, employing individuals in racial justice positions has ramped up in the Church of England.

With salaries ranging from £32,000 to £46,843 a year, roles have previously been advertised by the dioceses of York, Leeds, Chester, Birmingham and Sheffield.

In February, the Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, told the General Synod that Anglicans needed to 'further embed racial justice' in the Church.

The church should be not afraid of being called 'woke', she told the governing body, after it approved a motion telling all parishes to draw up their own 'race action plans'.

MailOnline have approached the Church of England for a comment.