The time is right to bring the UKME community into sharper focus within the Church.
In February 2021, the diocese welcomed its first UKME Development Enabler, the Revd Polly Falconer, strengthening its resolve to encourage, support and promote UKME vocations, participation and representation at all levels across the diocese. Find out more about Polly and her role.
Racism exists in the Church of England. We need every person in every church and every school to root it out. Read more about From Lament to Action, the Church of England Anti-Racism Taskforce report.
Intercultural Mission Conference 2023
Wednesday 26 April, 9:30am - 4:15pm at St Paul's Church, Slough
A one-day conference for those leading churches and parishes with significant UK minority ethnic/global majority heritage populations to explore the challenges and opportunities for intercultural mission in the Anglican Church.
The conference is led and hosted by St Pauls, Slough - the designated intercultural mission resourcing hub in the Diocese of Oxford - and will include a keynote address followed by seminar tasters, and a choice of seminars on various aspects of intercultural mission. A plenary session will draw resolutions on championing intercultural worshipping communities.
This conference will provide an opportunity for those leading churches and parishes with significant UKME/GMH populations to share best practices, learn and mentor each other in intercultural ministry. Watch a recording of the event here:
Race Equality Week 2023
What do young people have to say about race equality in 2023? Polly visited Aylesbury Vale Academy to find out and had a great conversation - have a watch and share it with the young people in your life. You can also download the video here.
See all our Race Equality Week resources.
Black History Month
From Saturday 1 October to Monday 31 October, churches across the diocese marked Black History Month with events, services and exhibitions, and more.
Find out more about the events and book tickets.
UKME Chapter
The UKME Chapter offers pastoral support to ordained clergy and licensed lay ministers (LLMs) with a license to officiate within the Diocese of Oxford, through making space for corporate prayer, seeking to hold ourselves and our ministries before God.
The Chapter is not a campaigning forum; however, it will seek to advocate for the UKME community in matters that concern us and/or the communities we represent, particularly on issues of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
UKME resources
Whether you're just starting on a journey of discovery into Black theology or whether you're looking to go deeper, find a growing list of resources.
Intercultural Mission and Ministry Resourcing Hub
St Paul’s Slough is the intercultural mission and ministry resourcing hub church in the Diocese of Oxford.
Through online training, mentoring and sharing, they aim to nurture and grow effective intercultural mission and ministry across the diocese. They support diocesan efforts to create a culture change and address barriers to ethnic minority lay and ordained persons' participation, representation and progression in mission and ministry.
The hub aims to assist the diocesan UKME Development Enabler to realise an increase in ethnic minority lay and ordained ministry enquiries leading to licensing and ordination. Read about intercultural mission and ministry at St Paul's Church, Slough.
The Revd Polly Falconer