Equal Opportunities Policy

At St Mary’s and St Ethedreda’s, our aim is to serve everyone in our local community, irrespective of their race, religion or beliefs, gender, age, or ability and to treat everyone with respect and courtesy. We will not discriminate against any person or group of people, either directly or indirectly. We promote tolerance and understanding rather than discrimination, harassment and victimisation. We are therefore committed to offering equal opportunities to all people to participate in our worship and other activities, irrespective of age, caring responsibilities, gender, disability, racial/ethnic origin, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We offer similar equal opportunities when recruiting employees and volunteers. For some specific posts, however, there is a genuine occupational reason for the post holder to be a practising Christian of a recognised denomination and in these cases this Christian belief will be a requirement. We encourage people of all ages and those with special needs to serve as employees or volunteers according to their abilities. All employees and volunteers must understand and express sympathywith our Christian ethos and do nothing that would be seen to undermine it.

The PCC is committed to the implementation of this policy and to a programme of action to ensure that the policy is, and continues to be, fully effective. The overall responsibility for the policy lies with the Vicar and Churchwardens, but all church members are required to comply with the policy and to act in accordance with its objectives so as to remove any barriers to equal opportunity.