Racial and Social Justice Enabler

 

DURHAM DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (DDBF)

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Racial and Social Justice Enabler

GRADE: Grade 6 - £42,188.00

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Growing Leadership Strategic Lead

HOURS & TERM: 35 hours per week, 3 year fixed term

LOCATION: The Diocesan office - Cuthbert House, Stonebridge, Durham, DH1 3RY.

The organisation is currently adopting a hybrid working approach which may allow flexibility around some home working.

SAFEGUARDING: The Diocese of Durham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment

JOB CONTEXT:

The Diocese of Durham provides ministry and support to parishes and chaplaincies across the diocese to support our mission of 'Blessing our communities in Jesus' name for the transformation of us all'.

The Church of England is seeking to galvanise efforts to combat racism and promote racial and social justice, within and through its churches, structures and schools. This work aims to ensure that our leadership and churches fully represent the communities that we serve and is set against the backdrop of civil unrest seen during the summer of 2024. This role will play a key role in supporting vocations from under-represented and / or disadvantaged communities and demographics.

This role will also ensure those who are called to ministries are able to flourish, and those who do not naturally see themselves in ministry can see their God-given potential and hear their calling.

The role serves the whole diocese and its breadth of traditions. The role holder will need to be able to challenge, when appropriate, our thinking and practice about lay and ordained vocations.

The Mission, Discipleship and Ministry (MDM) team, of which this role is part, is committed to collaboration and communication to enable a healthy culture of delivery, accountability and evaluation. We are passionate disciples, adaptable practitioners, reflective learners and self-aware team players.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Growing Leadership Strategic Lead (GLSL) and Team

Archdeacon of Durham

HR department and Bishop’s Office

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enabler

Head of Delivery for Diocesan Transformation

Bishop’s Leadership Team

Strategic Leads and MDM team

Bishop’s Advisors

Communities Together Durham

Clergy and Lay leaders

Durham County Council Racial Justice Unit

Chaplain for GRT communities

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

To promote racial and social justice by:

• Being a key part of the Growing Leadership team and be an agent of change towards a culture of transformation to raise the profile, conversation and uptake of vocations within minority communities in Durham Diocese.
• Being a person of grace and peace who is able to build unity within a broad church and different social contexts.

• Serving as programme leader for racial and social justice, working collaboratively to ensure the programme is developed and implemented effectively. The programme would include, but not be limited to, running courses for clergy, resources for schools and an anti-racism toolkit for churches.
• In collaboration with the Diocesan Director of Vocations (DDV), designing pathways and nurturing vocations, ministry and mission amongst UKME/GMH/GRT communities and lower income communities, promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Developing support and resources for UKME/GMH/GRT ministers working with the GLSL, to ensure clergy support and wellbeing.
• Developing, promoting and distributing racial and social justice resources for use by parishes, chaplaincies and schools, learning from best practice nationally.
• Keeping abreast of racial and social justice activities and resourcing across the Church of England, serving as the diocesan contact with the Church of England Racial Justice Unit and Estates Ministry teams;
• Co-ordinating communication, monitoring programme expenditure, assisting with gathering and interpreting data and producing activity reports;
• Analysing participation data to establish baseline levels of diversity within leadership roles to enable diversity reporting and monitoring to identify potential barriers to participation;
• Collating, developing and promoting racial and social justice resources for use in discipleship development and worship;

COMMON DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Health and Safety

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, whilst at work the post-holder must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of any other person who may be affected by their acts or omissions.  In addition, they must co-operate with the DDBF on health and safety and not interfere with or misuse anything provided for their health, safety and welfare.

Confidentiality

The post-holder must not pass on to unauthorized persons, any information obtained in the course of their duties without the permission of their line manager.

Safeguarding

If at any time the post-holder becomes aware of a safeguarding risk, they should report it immediately to the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity

This role is open to a lay or ordained person. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly those from UK Minority Ethnic / Global Majority Heritage (UKME/GMH) background who are currently underrepresented.

We understand the benefits of employing individuals from a range of backgrounds, with diverse cultures and talents. We aim to create a workforce that:

• values difference in others and respects the dignity and worth of each individual;

• reflects the diversity of the nation that the Church of England exists to serve;

• fosters a climate of creativity, tolerance and diversity that will help all staff to develop to their full potential.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and ensuring that all employees, job applicants, customers and other persons with whom we deal are treated fairly and are not subjected to discrimination. We want to ensure that we not only observe the relevant legislation but also do whatever is necessary to provide genuine equality of opportunity. We expect all of our employees to be treated and to treat others with respect. Our aim is to provide a working environment free from harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form which may affect the dignity of the individual

If at any time the post-holder becomes aware of a breach or potential breach of our commitment and policy regarding equality, diversity and inclusivity, they should report it immediately to their line manager.

Genuine Occupational Requirement

Due to the nature of working in a specifically church leadership context, the post holder must be an active communicant member of the Church of England, or a full member of a church belonging to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or the Evangelical Alliance.

This post is exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010. The Diocese of Durham supports and promotes the aims of the Church of England.