“While there has been some progress over the years with regards to the Church’s relationships 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 pivotol 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
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.
READ AND WATCH – Visions of Justice and Hope
Visions of Justice and Hope – Evangelical Alliance
READ – Commemorating Windrush
LISTEN – PODCASTS
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
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
Additional Seminars / Talks
On a fiercely hot mid-June weekend, the Heart of Norfolk benefice welcomed over 125 people to its very first Eco Fair and Creation Care Sunday service. Rector, the Revd Sally Kimmis reflects on the journey to this point and some of the lessons learned along the way. “At the end of June last year, we had a group service for
Four new Eco Chaplains were commissioned by the Bishop of Thetford at Cathedral Evensong on Sunday 22 June. Norman Johnson, Sam Ruddock, Richard Beach, and James Lee have been trained, to help parishes embed creation care in their mission and ministry, through worship, witness, teaching, pastoral care, discipleship, witness, buildings and land across the diocese. The primary purpose of this
Susan Rowe outlines the variety of activities that made the most of Great Big Green Week and Churches Count on Nature in mid-June in Hemblington. It’s a great example of working in partnership with others to care for Creation. The Friends of All Saints Church, Hemblington, work hard to support the conservation management of the churchyards, to help maintain a
A special service will take place on Sunday to say farewell to the Revd Canon Andy Bryant who has been at the heart of the Norwich Cathedral community for a decade. Canon Andy is one of the Cathedral’s three Residentiary Canons serving under the Dean of Norwich, and since being installed as the Canon for Mission and Pastoral Care on
Many of our churches made the most of Churches Count on Nature* (CCoN) week or Great Big Green Week, both in mid-June, to engage their local community in caring for creation. Read on for reports from five of them. Fair for all the world in Eaton “Eaton Churches’ Summer Fair Fair took place during Churches Count on Nature Week so
The Bishop of Norwich today joined leading figures from politics, the military, national security, academia and faith communities to ask Sir Keir Starmer to invest in diplomacy and development, as well as defence. The Rt Revd Graham Usher is one of more than 60 signatories to an open letter asking the Prime Minister to fund conflict prevention as part of
Church of England final report on Racial Justice The Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice has published its sixth and final report, following three years of extensive interrogation and questioning of the Church of England’s willingness to embed racial justice in its structures and the practice of its ministry. Mandated to drive
Purpose The primary purpose of the group is to provide strategic oversight and act as a steering group that supports the Diocese of Norwich to become a racially ‘just’ Diocese at all levels and stages. The Church of England has determined to scrutinise its own structures and practices to eliminate
From Lament to Action is a report led by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Anti-Racism Taskforce. It was published in 2021 and calls for urgent changes to the culture of the Church of England. The report identified five priority areas in which the Church of England needs to make a notable
Download a pdf version The Racial Justice Toolkit News story: October 2024 The Church of England in Norfolk and Waveney has launched a new racial justice toolkit to support 550 parishes across the Diocese. In June 2020, the House of Bishops agreed to the creation of the Archbishop’s Anti-Racism taskforce