Churches mark ten years of Racial Justice Sunday
Major church services around Wales, Scotland and England will mark the tenth anniversary this Sunday 11 September of Racial Justice Sunday, an annual event when churches are encouraged to cut racial tension and build community relations.
Racial Justice Sunday is organised each year by Churches' Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ), well known for its anti-racism work.
It is always observed on the second Sunday in September, which this year falls significantly on 11 September. Increased racist attacks in the wake of the London bombings and attempted bombings, has sharpened the challenge to overcome the human instinct to scapegoat and stigmatize on ethnic and cultural grounds.
In addition to hundreds of services around Britain and Ireland, there will be three national services in London, Cardiff and Glasgow, attended by church leaders and representatives of faith communities.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams has sent this message for the service in St Paul's Cathedral: 'Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The road to true racial justice has proved, as we always knew it would, a long and arduous one. Over the last decade Racial Justice Sunday has helped us in many ways. It has helped us to understand and appreciate the distance we have travelled; it has also brought home to us how far we still have to go. Now, as we mark its tenth anniversary, in this service and in others up and down the country, we can and should take stock - thanking God for what has been achieved and seeking his wonderful support and guidance in all that remains to be done.
'Christ has taught us that the Father's great love for each and every one of his children is stronger by far than the forces that seek to divide us and drive us apart. As we allow that same love to light up our own lives, may we too become beacons for the world of equality and justice He wills for us all.'
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, CYTN (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.
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. Doreen Lawrence will speak about the racism she has experienced since the death of her son, Stephen. 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.
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.
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.
Media are welcome to attend the services. For accreditation, interviews and Racial Justice Sunday packs, please email anne.van.staveren@ctbi.org.uk or phone 020 7654 7254 or 07939 139881 or Richard Solly on 020 7654 7244.
For worship resources, see www.ctbi.org.uk and click on 'Racial Justice Sunday'.