Last week, the Winchester School of Mission were delighted to welcome Nina Kurlberg and Bisi Obamakin to an initial meeting with a small group of staff and students. Nina and Bisi are working with all the Church of England ministerial training institutions to explore key questions around racial diversity and inclusion. Their expertise can also help equip us to diversify the content of the curriculum and the approaches to learning and teaching we use.
The aim of this project is not only to address the widely recognized and lamented failure of training to honour and learn from other cultures, their Christian heritage and the experiences of all those who make up our churches and wider communities, but also to ensure our students have the opportunity to learn from the widest and richest source of theological thinkers and cultural voices as possible.
Working with Nina and Bisi’s insights in discussion with students and core tutors has enabled us to achieve another important step forward today in the work we have been doing to address the important questions raised by the Lament to Action report. Fundamentally, this is about learning more about really honouring and valuing and listening to people better, as we reflect the image of God in all our diversity. It’s evident that being intentional about this is helping move us forward in this shared vision as a learning community and wider School of Mission.
Revd Dr Amy Roche, Dean of Licensed Ministry Training
The meeting provided the opportunity to explore hopes for the future, to tell stories of personal experience and to name barriers to this important work. Mel Osborne, an Ordinand with Winchester Licensed Ministry Training team and a member of the Diocesan Racial Justice Group reflected that:
I am excited by the way in which this conversation has paved the way for all of us in the School of Mission to learn how to listen to the stories and voices of others and to create opportunities to understand cultural differences. My hope is that this will become an organic part of all our conversations and learning in the future.
Mel Osborne
Ani Davy, soon to be ordained curate in Bitterne, additionally said that she was really encouraged to see the proactive nature of the diocese in enabling and taking part in these important conversations and to be part of formulating a way forward that will enhance the learning opportunities for all.
We are all looking forward to continuing to work with Nina and Bisi in the future.
