Racial Justice

Welcome to CTBI’s revamped Racial Justice web section, which will enable Christians to engage with issues of justice, equality, dignity and respect in the church and society.

The Revd Dr Martin Luther King Jr famously said that, ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’! Dr King, like many before him, and others after, was inspired by the Hebrew and Christian scriptures which demonstrated that God was a ‘God of justice’ - “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing….” Isaiah 61:8.

The very same scriptures call upon us to act accordingly: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” - Micah 6:8.

We live in a society that is badly in need of justice, and desperate for the hope, peace and mercy for which Christ died. For instance, irrespective of how people chose to vote on Brexit, one of the unintended consequences of that conclusion, is the rise in race and religious hate crime, and a general decline in civility and compassion in our discourse on ‘race’, immigration, asylum and refugee matters.

Moreover, the Government’s “Hostile Environment” led to the “Windrush Scandal”, which primarily saw those of African Caribbean heritage, who had been living legally in this country for decades, threatened with deportation, and in some instances, actually deported.

Finally, the so called ‘Migrant Crisis’, which came to the fore several years ago with those fleeing persecution and poverty (from the Middle East, Asia and Africa), making perilous sea crossings to reach Europe, has recently witnessed an increase in dangerous Calais journeys to these shores.

When one looks behind these issues and stories, what we find are people - often the most vulnerable – in search of hope and a new life. And while it is easy to see them as statistics or figures who are connected to laws and regulations, it is important to remember that these same men, women and children are made in the image of God and loved by him.

The church has a vital role to play in this conversation. As society’s moral compass, it can provide a prophetic voice which calls upon government, local authorities, businesses and civil society groups to respond with integrity, compassion and love to those on the margins; people who are the last, the least and the lost in our world.

Racial Justice Sunday

Racial Justice Sunday is an occasion for Christians in Britain to collectively focus on racial justice. It began in 1995, and generally took place on the second Sunday in September. In 2017, a decision was taken to move the date to the second Sunday in February (a direct swap with Education Sunday, which was then in February).

Racial Justice Sunday resources are produced by CTBI’s sponsoring churches. These materials will enable you to Remember, Reflect and Respond to racial justice matters.

·       Remember the importance of racial justice

·       Reflect on human diversity and thank God for it

·       Respond by working to end injustice, racism and ignorance through prayer and action.