Black History Month officially finishes this week, but the principles of recognising and celebrating diversity are ongoing. Hopefully, this month has highlighted the small changes you can lead in your church community to embrace that diversity.
The Rt. Revd Paul Davies, Bishop of Dorking and Chair of the Racial Diversity Advisory Group, shares his encouragements and thoughts on the last month in this video:
Thank you to everyone who has watched the short film series we produced to celebrate this year’s Black History Month. They will continue to be available for churches to use beyond October as you explore:
- recognising and celebrating black voices in the church
- welcome
- belonging
You can access the films for free by registering here.
The National Church has some further film resources to help celebrate and explore black history.
- Visitor and Chocolate Digestive are short film monologues by Testament, a West Yorkshire performer, poet, and rapper, exploring racism within the Church. These works, based on interviews about systemic and personal racism, were commissioned by the Leeds Church Institute and Bishop Smitha Prasadam.
- After the Flood highlights the overlooked history of African chattel slavery in British Christian history and explores biblical principles for racial reconciliation in today's churches. Archbishop Stephen Cottrell recommended it for Bible study and small groups to reflect on being one in Christ.
You can find out more about our journey to grow more diverse as a diocese here.