News

Churches mark ten years of Racial Justice Sunday

August 30, 2005

Churches around Britain and Ireland will mark the tenth anniversary of Racial Justice Sunday on 11 September.

Racial Justice Sunday always falls on the second Sunday of September. Most of the major Churches in Britain and Ireland (including Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Protestant) invite their members to use the day to celebrate diversity, reflect on racism, pray for racial justice and contribute to the Racial Justice fund, which supports projects working for equality and community cohesion and improving community relations.

Acting Moderator of the Churches’ Commission for Racial Justice, Ms Pat White, said: ‘Although it is a coincidence that the tenth anniversary of Racial Justice Sunday falls on 11 September, it is very appropriate. The attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 and the London bombings in July this year both led to very real tensions between different communities. There has been a lot of scapegoating and stereotyping. Since the 7 July bombings, there has been a huge rise in racist and anti-Muslim attacks.

She continued: ‘Racial Justice Sunday is about affirming that we want to live together in mutual respect, and that it’s possible to do so. It’s about saying that human diversity can be a source of strength and delight and doesn’t have to be feared. It draws attention to injustices but says we can overcome them peacefully. It says no to fear, prejudice and violence, yes to diversity, love and respect.’

The annual observance is co-ordinated by the Churches’ Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ) working together with the Catholic Association for Racial Justice, the Methodist Racial Justice Committee, the United Reformed Church Racial Justice Office, CYTÛN (Churches Together in Wales), the Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group, the Refugee Project of the Irish Bishops’ Conference and others. CCRJ is well-known for its anti-racism work and is responsible for Asylum Voices, documenting the experiences of people seeking asylum and published in 2003.

Mr Haynes Baptiste, Acting Chair of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ), said: ‘Racial Justice Sunday has been a success as a medium for educating on racial justice issues, but there is still much more work to be done. As we celebrate the tenth Anniversary of Racial Justice Sunday, CARJ would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported and contributed to Racial Justice Sunday celebrations since its inception in 1995.’

This tenth anniversary year there will be special national celebrations in London, Glasgow and Cardiff as well as hundreds of local services around Britain and Ireland.

Glasgow: 6 pm 11 September, Pollokshields Church (Church of Scotland), 525 Shields Road, Glasgow, G41 2RF. Involving the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Revd David Lacy, Most Revd Mario Conti, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow and Bishop Idris Jones, Scottish Episcopal Bishop of Glasgow.

London: 6 pm, 11 September, St Paul's Cathedral
African drummers, youth choir, gospel musicians, will join speakers Rt Revd Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark and Revd Dr Joel Edwards, General Director, Evangelical Alliance. Also involving: Rt Revd Kieran Conry, President, Catholic Association for Racial Justice; Bishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Church; His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain; Revd Ermal Kirby, Chair, London North East Methodist District.

Cardiff /Caerdydd: 3 pm, 11 September/Medi, Tabernacl, The Hayes. Speaker/Siaradwr: Revd/Parchg Aled Edwards, Chair of the Welsh Refugee Council/ Cadeirydd Cyngor Ffoaduriaid Cymraeg.