Responding to injustice and building an inclusive church
As Christians, we are called to respond with love and compassion and to continually work to address racial and social injustice.
We know that there is work for us to do in the area or racial justice, and we are starting to look at this across a number of areas:
- Challenge - we continue to address institutional racism, listening to and learning from the experiences of UK minority ethnic people;
- Recruitment - we seek to support more UK minority ethnic clergy, staff and volunteers;
- Acknowledge and repent of the Church’s past involvement in and benefit from the slave trade;
- Make our churches truly welcoming to everyone, taking responsibility for the need for profound cultural change in our Church.
- Work with others in Hereford Diocese and the Church of England to bring these things about
The church of England established a £100m fund for healing, support and justice. This explainer document sets out what the fund is and how it has been created to address historic wrongs.
A text only version of the explainer document can be downloaded here.
From Lament to Action
In April 2021, the Anti Racism Taskforce on racism in the Church of England published the From Lament to Action report.
Our record in this area in the Church of England is not good, and Bishop Richard encourages us to begin by looking at ourselves.
Support Networks
You can join the UKME/Global Majority Heritage network. The Church of England seeks to support people of Global Majority Heritage (GMH)/ UK Minoritiy Ethnic (UKME) clergy, ordinands and lay ministers and leaders to join an ethnocultural communications network.
To learn more and register visit the Church of England website. You can also download and share the registration poster.
A number of ethnocultural networks currently exist in the Church of England, including the umbrella body AMEN: Anglican Minority Ethnic Network, the Gypsy, Roma and Travellers Friendly Churches network, The Teahouse, The Persian and Farsi network, and the UKME Ordinands and Curates network.
We are part of the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI), a partnership of six dioceses working together to dismantle systemic racism and build a more inclusive Church. Rooted in the teachings of Jesus and guided by the From Lament to Action report, WMRJI seeks to transform church structures so that people of every race and background can belong, thrive, and be celebrated.
You can find out more about the WMRJI and their work by visiting their website.
Resources to support you
To help us grow and build a deeper understanding, knowledge and information about racial injustice and particularly the lived experiences of black, brown and other ethnic minority British history is a helpful starting place. There are many resources but these are a small selection of books, articles and podcasts:
- "What do You See?" A poem in response to the tragic killing of George Floyd
- An account of what it is still like being Black, British and educated in London 2020
- Book recommendations:
- White Fragility by Roin Di Angelo
- Why I'm no longer talking to White People about Racism by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Black and British by David Olusoga
- Podcasts:
- Transition2Adulthood podcast Young Adults from across the UK share their experience of the Justice System
- The Anti Racist Listening Project Conversations about how people are making anti-racist action a part of their lives.
Our Representatives
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Racial Justice Officer |
Below is a prayer from Revd Freddie Strong, our Racial Justice Officer, inviting us to live out the call to Love Your Neighbour and work towards a world where every person is valued, affirmed, and truly belongs.