Taking a stand against racial injustice

Churches across the UK have reacted to the events of recent weeks, the horrific killing of George Floyd, and the subsequent protests across the world.

There is a growing collection of statements and videos on the Churches Together in England (CTE) page here, some of which could be watched in groups for discussion.

Pastor Agu Irukwu, national leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) UK, and one of the CTE Presidents, released a statement via a YouTube video which can be watched here.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, released a joint statement with Archbishop of York John Sentamu on Tuesday 2nd June:

Let us be clear: racism is an affront to God. It is born out of ignorance, and must be eradicated. We all bear the responsibility and must play our part to eliminate this scourge on humanity.

As Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, “In a real sense, we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Therefore, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

We pray that God’s abounding wisdom, compassion and love will guide leaders across the world to forge a better society.

Rev Lynn Green, General Secretary of Baptists Together, said this:

The time for superficial platitudes and excuses really is well and truly over. My plea is that we seize this moment and take some giant leaps forward in terms of becoming the kind of Kingdom Movement that God is calling us towards – beautiful, just, loving and rejoicing in the richness of the global church and the whole of humanity.

John Stevens, the national director of FIEC, writes this:

“We can make a start by acknowledging the reality of sin, emphasizing the pain of our brothers and sisters who daily face prejudice in society, and taking confidence that it is the gospel message of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus, who is building his church, that can along bring about the reconciled humanity we long for.”

The United Reformed Church offer this prayer:

Eternal God,
deeply troubled by what is happening following George Floyd’s death,
and by too much other inhumanity that doesn’t reach the headlines,
we cry to you as the one
whose love was the victor at Easter and
who pours it into our hearts at Pentecost.

As we observe the pain of a fractured world,
use your love to drive us from sadness to compassion;
as we watch the pain of the bereaved,
use your love to move us from pity to companionship;
as we are faced with the pain of marginalised people,
use your love to point us from complacency to your commonwealth.

In our praying,
let us not just talk to you,
but yield to your love;
in our anger,
let us not just rail against injustice,
but manifest your love;
in our actions,
let us not just flail about aimlessly,
but build the civilisation of love.

Until none of us are disregarded for who we are
nor any diminished by what we fail to be,
we keep on praying in the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen

At Faith in Later Life, with our focus on older people, we are aware that healthcare has been one area where there are serious disparities between white people and people from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority (BAME) communities, even before coronavirus. People from BAME communities in the UK face above average rates of dementia and may also be less likely to get a timely diagnosis.

Churches are often at the forefront of providing social, community and pastoral care, but research has shown that older people from BAME communities who are from poorer backgrounds have less access to healthcare, they are less likely to be taken seriously when they do seek help, and there isn’t enough research into the conditions that they may be more prone to. Read more here. How can we respond as Christians, to this inequality?

As Christians, and as church communities, we must go the extra mile especially at this time of global pandemic, to ensure the physical and spiritual needs of older people are noticed; and the impact of Coronavirus coupled with horrific killing of George Floyd, have provided a devastating and distressing reminder of the need to fight against prejudice and racial injustice at every opportunity.