The Bishop of Rochester, who is leading a CofE working group to try and tackle the issue, has admitted there is an "unconscious bias", while "some of it may well be conscious as well, or certainly has been at times".
Rt Rev James Langstaff told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "We, as a group, don't make the appointments so we are working quite hard to work with those who do make the appointments at the same time as developing the gifts of those who are potential appointees to senior posts."
Bishop James spoke out following criticism from a senior Anglican who suggested the Church of England is institutionally racist.
Chaplain to the House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, said ethnic minorities are "visible yet visible" and urged leaders to emulate the Pentecostal Church which has a prominent black leadership.
Mrs Hudson-Wilkin told the BBC: "I do not believe that the Church recognises that we are there.
"With my hand on my heart, I do not believe that the Church respects and embraces its minority ethnic membership."
"It's really a heavy burden to say that because that is the Church that I belong to, that is the Church that I love, but if someone else can genuinely give me another rationale as to why we are not there in senior leadership roles within the Church, then I'm prepared to consider it."
The Church of England on Tuesday named its first black bishop in more than 20 years when it revealed Dr Woyin Karowei Dorgu would become the Bishop of Woolwich.
Dr Dorgyu told Premier: "I believe very strongly that my appointment in this is a very big step in the right direction and will bring fresh motivation and new encouragement.
"It will invite more people to come on board and feel a new sense of belonging."