A statement from Clergy Support Trust:
"Dr Henry and her colleagues on the Windrush Group wrote to Clergy Support Trust on 16 December, raising concerns about the appointment of Theresa May as one of the Trust’s Honorary Vice-Presidents. The Chair and Chief Executive of the Trust replied on 17 December, thanking the group for its helpful comments, and requesting a meeting so that the Trust might learn from the authors’ experience and expertise, and so that – working in partnership with the Windrush Group and others – the Trust might continue to improve its own ministry to Global Majority Heritage clergy. That offer was accepted on 18 December.
"While we respect the writers’ decision to share the letter publicly, we are disappointed that they have done so, as we had hoped to enter a meaningful dialogue and, through partnership, to better serve the thousands of clergy who, each year, benefit from the work of Clergy Support Trust. Regretfully, the open letter contains a number of inaccuracies about Mrs May’s role and the Trust’s approach, which we do not think helps those we exist to serve. We very much hope that the decision to publish does not detract from that dialogue, to which we are so looking forward to in the new year."
The Trust’s reply, sent to the Windrush Group on 17 December, which details the nature of the role of Honorary Vice-Presidents and how they are not involved in developing the day-to-day strategy of the charity or in grant-making, can be seen here.
Information about the Trust’s work in 2020, when over 1,300 families were supported with grants and services, can be seen here.