Message from CRN Chair
The riots that broke out across different parts of the UK in August 2024 tragically underlined the importance of many of the themes we have been working on in the Churches’ Refugee Network in recent years: the scapegoating of migrants, refugees, people seeking asylum and other vulnerable communities in response to community concerns about inequality, social exclusion, declining public services and infrastructure and the combined impact of these factors on the wellbeing of communities. In our work concerns have been expressed frequently about the impact of harmful and divisive rhetoric, of hate speech and misinformation, and the way in which we have seen these lead to violence. In the wake of the recent riots there is now greater societal awareness of this threat, but much more needs to be done to address tensions in community relations and improve community safety.
As an ecumenical network our first priority as CRN has been to listen to the local communities impacted by the rioting. We are grateful for the leadership of faith communities in Southport and surrounding areas at a time when the tragic loss of precious young lives to violence in that community was being exploited to incite further violence, without care or respect for the grief and suffering of the family and friends of the children who were murdered, and those injured in this attack.
In other places affected by riots, local churches, working alongside faith and other community leaders, mobilised to protect their communities and to stand in solidarity with those who might be particularly vulnerable to attack on grounds of race, religion or immigration status. In this briefing we share some of the learning from our listening to that experience, but also the questions raised and the challenges to the Church where gaps have been identified in our resources and networks of relationships. We are thankful for the work of all those who have given so much of themselves to protect communities during this time of tension and threat. It is important that their leadership is recognised, and they feel supported by the wider Church.
As a society we have been too complacent about the negative forces tearing at the social fabric of our communities. The evidence that these words lead to violence is now incontrovertible and it is time to demand greater accountability. In the Church we are called to set the example by beginning with ourselves and examining how we are responding and contributing to the work of building community.
In the Churches’ Refugee Network we are keen to hear from member churches and Bodies in Association about how we might best support these efforts through ecumenical cooperation. As we continue this work we remember in prayer the bereaved families in Southport and all those impacted by this violence.
Pastoral response from the Church
At a time when some of the instigators of riots and racist and anti-immigrant violence and intimidation sought to appropriate Christianity as part of their rallying cry, the reality of the Church response was very different: local churches on the ground in areas targeted by these groups joined with other faith and community leaders to help prevent violence, keep people safe and support the whole of the local community. Some of the responses we have heard about included:
- Praying for the well-being of all in the community and being intentional about speaking in church about the threats we face and the needs of those who are most vulnerable.
- The establishment of multi-stakeholder community safety meetings and/or the creation of Whatsapp groups to keep people informed, counter disinformation and facilitate collective community responses.
- Increased activity from street pastors and/or other local faith-based groups joining this type of activity to provide a visible, pastoral presence on the ground in moments of high tension.
- Media engagement – issuing statements and giving interviews, challenging misinformation, conveying concern for those who are feeling unsafe as a result of this violence, sharing the positive stories that communicate the lived reality of the local communities.
- Listening – creating spaces where people can share their feelings about what has been happening, the fear and concern as well as the hopes and ideas for what might be done to address these challenges.
Reflecting on the churches’ response highlighted some learning and gaps for further consideration and action:
- Issuing statements: there was some discussion on the value and significance of statements. While for many it would be obvious that racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, anti-semitism etc. are in conflict with authentic Christian values, it was felt to be important that the Church would state this clearly, both as a challenge to those who seek to appropriate Christian identity for divisive purposes, and as a reassurance to those being targeted. Those involved in inter faith work shared that it was helpful to have these statements to share with their partners from other faith communities. This in turn helped to counter misinformation about Christians within other communities. At the same time, it was noted that there was a need to go deeper in our reflections. Firstly, because these riots – particularly the coordination across a range of geographical locations – seemed to take us by surprise when, in reality, the warning signs have been obvious for a long time. What is the learning in terms of the preventative action that needs to take place now? A second, and related point, is that there are some problematic assumptions underpinning the attempted appropriation of Christianity as a tool of division, notably an assumption that the Church in the UK and Ireland ‘belongs’ to white people, that warrant greater attention and concerted action to address. Lastly, those who carried out the riots not only sought to divide communities, but also spread hate and fear. Many in the impacted communities were keen to assert that ‘fear’ should never be allowed to ‘win’, or shape the narrative. As such, ‘hope’, which is a counter narrative that lies at the heart of the Gospel, is a crucial message that the churches and Christians must find ways of disseminating.
- Anti-racism work: The riots and the commentary surrounding these events highlighted the importance of continued and greater investment in anti-racism training and a renewed commitment to awareness-raising. We have heard distressing accounts of people from Black and Global Majority Heritage communities feeling unsafe in their homes, while travelling to work and withdrawing from social activities or changing their patterns for socialising as a result of that fear. Many people are being retraumatised as memories of past experiences of racist violence are brought back to the surface. Yet many congregations are not talking about the suffering being experienced by their members and neighbours and, as a consequence, are part of the problem rather than the solution. Often there can be additional barriers to talking about the suffering of neighbours of other faiths, where religiously-motivated discrimination adds a further dimension to the attacks, because we have not taken the time to educate ourselves on islamophobia, anti-semitism and freedom of religion or belief more broadly.
- Local inter faith networks: The response to the riots highlighted the value of these networks where they exist, but also the lack of relationships in many areas where, for example, Christians did not know the location of the local mosque or have any contacts for the local Muslim community. The encouragement to reach out highlighted the fact that Christians and Muslims were living parallel lives in the community, with little intentional encounter and relationship-building. What help or encouragement might be offered to initiate, grow and make visible these relationships?
- Engaging with alienated or disenfranchised groups in the community: It has been a long-term concern of the Churches’ Refugee Network that migrants and people seeking asylum were being scapegoated by some in positions of influence in response to legitimate concerns raised by communities about lack of investment, lack of employment and other opportunities – especially for young people, housing insecurity and income inequality, lack of engagement with communities about issues that affect them etc. Addressing these concerns in a way that engages communities in dialogue about the real causes and meaningful steps that could be taken in response is an important dimension to this work and one where faith leaders, alongside other civic leaders, can play a key role, particularly as convenors/hosts of conversations. It is important for churches to engage in critical self-reflection about the extent to which these groups and communities are also alienated from the Church and what might be done to build or re-build those relationships. The right to challenge communities about misperceptions and discrimination is earned through long-term presence, commitment and listening and it is through this kind of engagement that false identification of Christianity with racism and other divisive attitudes will be meaningfully addressed.
- Sanctuary: Those churches and groups that had engaged with Church of Sanctuary and/or City of Sanctuary programmes found this work to be very helpful in this time of challenge with the vision, language and tools it offers. This points to a need for continued and increased investment in this work. The Sanctuary movement is an inspiring source of good news stories that illustrate how welcoming communities enrich the lives of all.
- Advocacy: In addition to the areas highlighted above for advocacy and awareness-raising, there was, unsurprisingly, significant attention to the themes of mis/disinformation and hate speech. CRN participants have been warning about the need to address not only violence targeted against migrants, people seeking asylum and other communities subject to discrimination, but also the words that lead to violence. In the aftermath of the riots we have seen prosecutions for hate-speech and incitement of violence on social media, but it was suggested in our conversations that this approach does not go far enough. Do we need some form of public enquiry or other mechanism to examine the impact of social media and other public communications – with particular emphasis on the language of elected representatives – on community relations and the threat of violence, and to consider how we might more effectively hold those responsible to account and better prevent this kind of threat in the future?
PRAYER FOR COMMUNITY
We are grateful to Rev Inderjit Bhogal, the lead for Church of Sanctuary, for the prayer below which was shared by CTBI in response to the riots.
Holy God, our refuge
In whom is our sanctuary,
We pray for all people and places caught up in hate filled violent street disorder.
We hold before you all who perpetrate violence,
All who live in fear of violence,
All who work to bring violence to an end.
We hold before you all who mourn the loss of life and livelihood resulting from violence.
Bring us and the world to always build cultures and communities of humanity, hospitality, healing and hope, where all are welcome, valued, belong equally, and have sanctuary and well-being.
Strengthen us to work with you to bring people together to stand with all who are targets of hatred, to dispel misinformation, hatred and fear, to mend hurts, to keep hope alive, to make all things new, and never to tire of seeking justice and peace.
In the Name of Christ.
Amen.
