Nationally, Black History Month is dedicated to honouring the achievements of black women who are often the forgotten heroines. This year's celebration, Saluting our Sisters, highlights the crucial role that black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities. Learn more from the UK Black History Month website.
The Revd Canon Bev Hunt, The Bishop’s Adviser on UKME/GMH issues, said: “Dig deeper. Look closer. Think bigger... is a very apt slogan marking this year’s Black History Month. It reminds us of the importance of pausing to take a deep breath, to survey the landscape around us, reflect on the path taken with its joys, hardships, challenges, and ups and downs before continuing our journey. This week, I came across a diocesan poster celebrating 25 years of women ordained to the priesthood in the Church of England. It contained photos of 80 women priests in the Diocese of Guildford. Among the faces peering out from the little squares were two black priests. Now, there are many more clergy and laity of a United Kingdom minority ethnic/Global Majority Heritage (UKME/GMH) background.
“I hope you will join us this Black History Month as we:
- seek to serve humanity in the footsteps of Jesus,
- pause to celebrate racial and ethnic diversity in all aspects of ministry in Guildford diocese,
- and demonstrate that our commitment is rooted in Jesus who stood for the poor, the lame, the vulnerable, the blind, the disadvantaged, oppressed and marginalised in all structures of society.”
As a Diocese, we are pursuing diversity and tackling the barriers to racial justice. Growing diversity is part of our Transforming Church Transforming Lives framework. We are working towards taking the appropriate and relevant actions laid out in the key recommendations from the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce Report: From Lament to Action.
Useful resources
- The Racial Justice Covenant. Remind and recommit to the Principles of this covenant.
- The Anti-Racism Toolkit. Engage with the process and reflect and act on situations and issues where there is potential for racial discrimination. Think about best practice, what is going well, what needs to be celebrated; and what needs to change. It starts with self-reflection on personal biases and ends with accountability.
- After the Flood: The Church, Slavery and Reconciliation is a free 67-minute documentary on how the 18th-century Church became embroiled in chattel slavery. We discover how the Church justified its involvement in the trade and its lasting impact. It explores biblical principles for racial reconciliation in our churches today. Download a poster to display in your church building.
- Being Built Together. The Racial Justice Unit is staging a free network event for UKME/Global Majority Heritage clergy and lay ministers and leaders from 12-13 October at the Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire. The two-day event will be filled with worship, engaging discussions, thought-provoking workshops, and meaningful connections, all centred around the power of unity and collaboration, and working towards a more inclusive and just future.
- Liturgical resources from the Church of England for Black History Month. These include Services of the Word, a Eucharistic service, Prayers of Lament and of Commission, and links to further resources for Bible studies, youth work, Messy Church, and music.
- Reflective article from the Racial Justice Officer for the Diocese of Chichester. The Revd Dr Godfrey Kesari, shares a reflection on what we might think about over this month.