New Inclusion and Diversity Adviser for the diocese

We welcome Sally Beazley who has joined Bath and Wells as Inclusion and Diversity Adviser. In her new part-time role Sally will champion the value of diversity and inclusion across the diocese as part of the mission and Christian witness of the church. She will also help promote understanding of diversity and inclusion within the diocese and the Church and will seek to identify barriers to inclusion and support and encourage leaders in the diocese to address and remove these barriers.

It will encompass whatever the church includes or excludes, the perceived barriers and the actual barriers, and also the differing theological perspectives there are around issues within the church.

Sally says, “I will be working across the diocese, offering support and training to parishes, deaneries and schools…the role is one that is exciting and full of opportunities.”

Head of Mission Support and Ministry Development Charlie Peer says, “In her new role Sally will help us move forward in inclusion, developing policies, raising awareness of issues and equipping volunteers to champion diversity in our life as a church.

“The Diocese of Bath and Wells is committed to the principle of inclusion in the life of our churches and communities. All are welcome at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven, and it is our desire to model that here in Somerset. However, in practice we are painfully aware that we are still lagging behind in some areas of inclusion and diversity.

“People from UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds are rarely represented in our diocesan groups and structures. Women remain a minority in the senior clergy and staff roles of the diocese. We have much more to do in ensuring that deaf and disabled people can fully participate in the life of our church. There is also more work needed to build on the Church of England’s ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process, ensuring full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people and mutual understanding between those of different theological perspectives.”

Sally is a trained primary school teacher and was a Deputy Head in Northamptonshire. Latterly she worked as a specialist teacher for children with social, emotional and mental health needs as part of Leicester City Council’s Specialist Educational and Disability Service. Sally also worked as a Quality Circle Time trainer, which involved supporting children to develop social skills through games and peer support. She is also a qualified dyslexia specialist assessor and teacher.