Racial Justice 

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 9^th on the 30^th 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 9^th, 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.