'Eurocentric' prayers must be avoided to improve inclusiveness, according to the supervision of the Church of England.
In what is considered the first example of the prayer of the Church of England that is subject to diversity plans, the diocese of Norwich has published parishes with an 'anti-racist toolkit'.
The toolkit tells priests to ensure that prayers are not 'completely Eurocentric'.
It says: “Invite people to say the prayer of the Lord in their own language and to ensure that intercession is tailored to the concerns of the municipality and are not entirely Eurocentric.”
The leadership for around 650 churches, usually in the Eastern -Anglia countryside, also says that churches should try to include different languages and subjects and 'reflect images that reflect diversity in the body of Christ'.
It also tells churches to recognize special days that people from ethnic minorities can celebrate, such as racial justice on Sunday.
The use of different languages in songs and hymns to improve 'language diversity and intercultural worship' in music is encouraged.
Rev Dr. Ian Paul, associated minister at St. Nic's, Nottingham, said the Telegraph: “It seems extraordinary that, in a diocese that is 95 percent white, money is spent on this, including a full-time racial justice officer, when parishes scream for more clergy.”
'Eurocentric' prayers must be avoided to improve inclusiveness, according to guidance by the Church of England
Bishop of Norwich Graham Barham Usher (photo) is more than 650 churches in front, usually in the East Anglia countryside
The anti-racist toolkit, published by the diocese of Norwich, is considered the first example of the prayer of Church of England that is subject to diversity plans
The advice, written by the Racial Justice Action Group of the Norwich -Benism, says that the diocese 'is very white in terms of population, but the schools are becoming increasingly diverse.
“It is quite likely that the ethnic composition of some of our churches will reflect this in a few years.”
It further evokes God to 'open our hearts that we can be daring in finding the wealth of inclusion and treasures of diversity among us', causing congregants to come to you, a holy family, a rainbow people'.
Racial justice Sunday, which takes place on the second Sunday of February, is a day to “think about the importance of racial justice to thank for the gifts and beauty of human diversity,” says the church of England.
The Norwich guidance encourages clergy to start a 'collect for racial justice on Sunday', with proposed prayers that read: 'Stir the hearts of your people looking forward to our diversity, we can convert about the mistakes of the past'.
It says that 'mono-cultural' parishes are particularly receptive to diversity, even if there is none in the parish.
“We must find ways to display that in our churches, even if someone from a different culture is not physically present,” it adds.
The guidance, including a preface that says that the track record of the Church of England is poor about racial justice, was launched last September.
In November, an evaluation of the Archbishops' Commission for Racial Justice focused on congregations in predominantly white areas for their 'lack of cultural consciousness'
Weeks later, the Racial Justice Commission of the Church of England suggested that congregations in national parishes around Great Britain are racist.
An evaluation of the Archbishops' Commission for Racial Justice focused on congregations in predominantly white areas for their 'lack of cultural consciousness'.
The 68 -page report noticed the denomination as a 'structural and institutional' racist.
A spokesperson for the diocese of Norwich said that the toolkit is part of their reaction to the Church of England's from lamentation to action report that General Synod agreed in 2021.
They added that it contains a wide range of optional sources for parishes.
'We are committed to being a church for everyone in our communities and this must include people from all parts of society. It is a fact that Anglicanism is a global community and, as disciples of Jesus, we benefit from the insights of Christians from different cultures and experiences.
'Archbishop Desmond Tutu came up with the expression' Rainbow People 'to describe how we can live well together and contribute to just and thriving communities. That is our desire in the diocese of Norwich. '
