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Leeds Beckett academic announced as Racial Justice Commission member
Dr Nirmala Pillay from Leeds Beckett University's School of Law is one of the 11 selected to take on the prestigious role.
The Racial Justice Commission was appointed by the Archbishops in response to the Anti-racism Taskforce report, ‘From Lament to Action’, for a period of three years.
It follows a series of commitments by the Archbishops to take action to identify, respond to, and root out systemic racism in the Church of England.
The Commission is an independent body bringing together a range of experience and expertise within and beyond the church.
Members include specialists in areas such as Theology and Racial Justice; Ecclesiology and Liturgy; Formation and Theological Education and History and Politics.
Dr Pillay, who is a Reader in Leeds Law School said: “It is an honour to be chosen. I will be glad to do my bit. This is an opportunity to carry out a serious examination of how well the Church handles racial issues and where improvements can be made.”
Dr Pillay is a Reader and postgraduate Course Director and carries out research into public law, international law, international human rights law, philosophy, jurisprudence, and professional and research ethics. She was previously a Lay Canon at Liverpool Cathedral and served on the Chapter of Liverpool Cathedral. Dr Pillay has also chaired the ethics committee at Liverpool University.
Commenting on the appointment of the Commissioners, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York said: “We are delighted that these twelve Commission members have agreed to join the Racial Justice Commission.
“They represent complex interests and expertise, within and beyond the church, bringing a rich experience that will inform and meet the needs of the task that lies ahead. We pray for a transformation in our Church that will bring hope to the world. We look forward to their reports and pray for their work.”
Lord Boateng said: “These exceptional individuals bring wisdom and a passion for justice rooted in God’s love to the work of the Commission.
“Each, along with breadth and depth of experience in their respective fields, has a proven track record of bringing about transformative change.
“I feel privileged to work with them and am grateful for the prayers and encouragement the Commission has received from so many in the Church as we set about our work.”