Know our neighbour as ourselves

Published: 17th October 2024

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is why we need a Black History Month, what does it mean for the church and our lives today?

I think it is easier to answer that question this year more than any as we have all seen the violence, intimidation, rioting and division that took place across our country a couple of months ago. We as a Church can become complacent in our thinking that race doesn’t matter, and we are all the same in God’s eyes so why the special treatment. We can within our church bubbles think of ourselves as caring, responsible; places of peace and flourishing for all. The events of the last months showed us how slender that thread of respectful relationships can be. We need to be aware of the narrative from media and social media which paints a picture of division and hate, and Christians are not immune to that negativity and hate.

I believe that Black History Month gives us all time to reflect on differences within our space and to celebrate that difference. Intercultural mission involves reaching out to all nations and integrating into one worshipping community as they love and serve Jesus and each other. Black History month encourages people to learn more about Britain’s colonial history, which is often not taught in school. It gives us space to understand ourselves and our own biases. Knowledge is power in terms of the church and enables us to be better stewards of the privilege and blessings that are enjoyed by a proportion of the church.

So, what can I do in my parish in leafy Shropshire, or urban Wolverhampton? You can invest your time to understand the experience of black Christians in the Church of England; you can become part of an ever-growing solution building on knowledge and understanding; you can advocate for racial justice and become a champion. God's great commission to all nations requires us to truly know our neighbour as ourselves.

I would recommend the following activities: -

• Join the Anglican Network for Intercultural churches which exists to enhance understanding of effecting intercultural mission. https://anic.org.uk/
• Attend ‘Unconscious bias’ training on 20 November 2024 at St John’s Essington, 27 March 2025 at Doxey, Stafford or 5 June 2025 at Reeves Room, Lichfield – do book on via www.lichfield.anglican.org/calendar/
• Attending the Selwyn Lecture, in Lichfield Cathedral on 28 November 2024 at 9.30am, there will be a booking facility on the diocesan website closer to the date.

Canon Debbie Parkes is co-convenor of Lichfield Diocese’s
Racial Justice and Inclusion Task Group, and a lay canon of Lichfield Cathedral.
www.lichfield.anglican.org/racial-justice/