The Revd Canon Karlene Kerr
“While there has been some progress over the years with regards to the Church’s relationship and engagement with UKME/GMH communities, we are all aware that there is still a way to go.
Much more needs to be done in order of the Church to be a place where ALL people, irrespective of their identities feel valued, welcomed and affirmed.
I believe that the Church, as an institution within our society, has a pivotal role in this.
We must work together to make this Church a place where we are deemed equal as brothers and sisters in Christ, made in the image of God. It is only then that we become truly what we were called to be, ‘a light unto the nations.”
The Revd Canon Karlene Kerr
Racial Justice Sunday 2025
Why should it matter to me in Norfolk and Waveney? Revd Karlene Kerr explains in this helpful short film.
Helpful Resources
Racial Justice Sunday has been observed ecumenically in Britain and Ireland since 1995. Originally celebrated in September, it is now observed on the second Sunday in February.
The theme this year, on February 9th on the 30th anniversary is the coat of many colours. Reflecting on the fact that many of our churches and communities are becoming more diverse.
Racial Justice Sunday is an invitation for churches to reflect on the importance of racial justice, to give thanks for the beauty and gifts of human diversity and to commit to end racism and discrimination.
Racial Justice is not the preserve of any one group, an issue that only affects them and therefore only something that they should be concerned with.
In the words of Richard Ready, from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, this Sunday represents a call for Christians to engage in the righteous struggle for racial justice, because racial justice is everyone’s business.
Racism and racial discrimination are issues of justice precisely because they deny basic human dignity for men and women made in God’s image. If God is a God of justice, then any justice, whether for the earth or for oppressed women, should be on our hearts too. The prefix we place before the word justice should not determine our level of concern and engagement. As Christians we are called to partner with God in repairing the world and one of the ways we can do this is to be in solidarity with those who suffer racial injustice.
We demonstrate our solidarity when we confront the idolatry of racism, when we proclaim justice and mercy and walk humbly with our God. Our worse sin can be the sin of omission, when we do nothing, an extreme form of this led to millions being murdered in Nazi concentration camps, simply because they were seen as being different.
It is my hope that on Sunday February 9th, churches in our Diocese will commemorate racial justice Sunday. There are some truly excellent resources, a special collect, intercessions, confessions, reflections, sermons etc on the Church of England and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland websites. I commend them to you.
Lastly, the words of Jesus “Truly I tell you, whatever tou did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. It is Jesus we serve when we align ourselves with those who suffer racial injustice. Jesus extends open arms to the whole world and says no matter your human identity, your identity is found in me, first and foremost. You are all one in me.
Just as Jesus extends his love, his peace and his grace to us all, then so may we extend that same love to all our brothers and sisters in all the ways we can.
Racial Justice Resources
READ AND WATCH – Visions of Justice and Hope
Visions of Justice and Hope – Evangelical Alliance
READ – Commemorating Windrush
- Windrush 2024 Guardian
- Windrush 2024 CT
- Windrush Day 2024 – United Society Partners in the Gospel (uspg.org.uk)
LISTEN – PODCASTS
- Unpacking White Privilege (Part 1) with Peggy McIntosh: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/unpacking-white-privilege-part-1-with-peggy-mcintosh/id391116503?i=1000419806407 Her article that she refers to: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack © 1989 Peggy McIntosh
- https://safespaceradio.com/unpacking-white-privilege-part-2/. Part 2 of the above
- Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
- Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
- https://www.ciispod.com/ Free Podcasts resource on a variety of topics including racial justice. Listen to Post-Traumatic Slave syndrome by Dr Joy Degruy This is also available as a YouTube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL4T8ufg78o. Meet Mae Jemison, scientist, astronaut and the first ever black woman in space. An animated film for both children and adults
- After the Flood: The Church, Slavery and Reconciliation on Vimeo
Amazing Grace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Cv5P9H9qU available on Amazon Prime
Just Mercy: 2019 Film available on Amazon Prime https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4916630/
DOCUMENTARIES
- 13th (2016): Ava Duvernay (Netflix)
- Who Ever Heard of a Black Artist: Britain’s Hidden Art History (2020) (BBC Four)
- I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO(2016): Raoul Peck
- After Windrush – Paulette Wilson’s visit to Jamaica, 50 years on (2019) (Guardian Documentary)
- Will Britian Ever Have a Black Prime Minister (2017) (BBC iPlayer)
- Stamped from the Beginning (2013 Netflix film) https://www.netflix.com/title/81321341
- Sitting In Limbo : Stella Corradi (BBC iPlayer)
- Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners: David Olusoga (BBC iPlayer)
- Fighting the Power: Britian After George Floyd (BBC iplayer)
- When They See Us (2019) : Ava Duvernay Netflix
- Small Axe (2020): Steve McQueen (BBC iplayer
- Explained Season 1, Episode 3: The racial wealth gap (Netflix)
Additional Seminars / Talks
- Akala: Full Address and Q&A @ Oxford Union
- Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlane Schools : How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion
- https://novaramedia.com/2021/05/25/what-white-people-can-do-next-downstream/
Watch Revd Tim Yau speak about his experiences growing up in Lincolnshire.
Recorded for Racial Justice Sunday 2023.
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