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Ghost Ship

Institutional Racism and the Church of England

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About this listen

The Church is very good at saying all the right things about racial equality. But the reality is that the institution has utterly failed to back up these good intentions with demonstrable efforts to reform. It is a long way from being a place of Black flourishing.

Through conversation with clergy, lay people, and campaigners in the Church of England, A.D.A France-Williams issues a stark warning to the church, demonstrating how Black and Brown ministers are left to drown in a sea of complacency and collusion. While sticking plaster remedies abound, France-Williams argues that what is needed is a wholesale change in structure and mindset.

Unflinching in its critique of the church, Ghost Ship explores the harrowing stories of institutional racism experienced then and now, within the Church of England. Far from being an issue which can be solved by simply recruiting more Black and Brown clergy, says France-Williams, structural racism requires a wholesale dismantling and reassembling of the ship - before it is too late.

©2020 A.D.A France-Williams (P)2022 SCM Press Christianity Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination England Social justice
All stars
Most relevant
Interesting and insightful… I think I will need to listen again (and again) before I fully Understand what I don’t understand about this issue.

Challenging and undeniable

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I’ve never read an audiobook like this in its embrace of the medium, which only enhanced the impact of the critique within the words. As a white, male, straight CoE priest I needed to do some thorough examination of myself, my bias, my bigotry and the ministry I exhibit. Thank you to the author and all those who made this work possible.

A brutal and creative critique from within

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I'm sure that this book makes many important points. It is expressed in a varied and creative way, with poetry, fable, and real life testimony. But I did find it difficult to understand what the writer was getting at, in many places. I am left with an impression of distress but nothing concrete...perhaps that is the point after all.

Hard going but important

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