Racial justice, unity, and the church

Justice runs throughout the Bible. As a church, we often describe ourselves as being on a justice journey.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

‍The prophetic call of the Old Testament, the teaching of Jesus, and the letters of the New Testament all remind us that God’s people are called to reflect his character in the way we live together and the way we treat others. We are learning what it means to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God as a church family.

‍Our commitment to justice includes a desire to grow as a church that reflects the diversity of the community around us and the unity of the kingdom of God.

A local story that still speaks today

‍Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack in Eltham in 1993, not far from where one of our church communities now gathers. His death became a defining moment in the national conversation about racism and justice in the UK, and his story continues to challenge our society today.

Remembering Stephen Lawrence reminds us that questions of justice and equality are not abstract issues. They are part of the story of the places where we live and serve.

‍As followers of Jesus, we believe these questions matter deeply because every person is made in the image of God.

A biblical vision of unity and diversity

The Bible gives us a beautiful picture of God’s future for his people:

“a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne”

Revelation 7:9

Our desire to be a multi-ethnic and multicultural church grows out of this vision. We believe the church today is called to reflect something of that future reality in the present.

‍We long to be a community marked by genuine unity across cultures, backgrounds, and generations; a church that reflects God’s heart for all peoples

Continuing the journey together

‍Over recent years we have seen encouraging growth in diversity across the life of the church. At the same time, we recognise there is still more to learn and more to do.

We want to continue growing as a church that:

• listens well to one another
• honours different cultures and experiences
• speaks with courage and humility where injustice exists
• reflects the reconciling work of Jesus in our shared life together

‍We also recognise that this is not something we can do alone. We want to keep learning from one another and creating space for voices from different backgrounds to shape the life and direction of our church.

Justice, reconciliation, and unity are not side issues for the church. They are part of what it means to live out the gospel together.

As we continue this journey, we do so with prayer, humility, and hope, trusting that God is still at work among us. We believe he is shaping us to become the kind of church he has called us to be.

A few recommended resources:

Race, Reconciliation & The Gospel

Race and the Christian

Race and Grace teaching series

A conversation with Paul Ilo

Let’s talk about race

Challenging white Christian complacency