Racial Justice Sunday 2023

First published on: 18th January 2023

This year, Racial Justice Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the racially motivated murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence in Eltham, south-east London. For those not familiar with this tragic event, Stephen was an 18-year-old student who was studying for his A levels; he aspired to be an architect. On the evening of 22 April 1993, a group of White youths attacked Stephen, as well as his friend, Duwayne Brooks, at a bus stop in Eltham as they were on their way home. Stephen died as a result of this racist attack. It took another 18 years before Stephen’s attackers were finally convicted of his murder.

  • One legacy of this tragic event is Racial Justice Sunday. A call for us to Remember, Reflect and Respond to racial justice matters
  • Remember the importance of racial justice
  • Reflect on human diversity and thank God for it
  • Respond by working to end injustice, racism and ignorance through prayer and action

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Jennie Taylor reflects on the death of Stephen Lawrence

Jennie Taylor, Liverpool Diocese Racial Justice Officer reflects on the murder of Stephen Lawrence, what this means to her and should mean to the church today

How has the killing of Stephen Lawrence impacted your racial justice journey?

I was a teenager when Stephen Lawrence was murdered. I remember seeing it on the news and being horrified. It was the first time I realised that being Black could cost me my life. The aftermath of Stephen’s murder, the racist perpetrators who were allowed to walk free, the injustice of the police’s failed investigation, the lack of care shown by people whose skin colour didn’t look like mine – it made me angry. It unlocked in me a desire to see justice.

It’s not been an easy journey. It’s difficult to keep fighting for racial justice when it often seems like each time we take a step forward, we take two steps back.

Stephen Lawrence’s family has been an inspiration, they kept fighting for justice even when it seemed impossible. Their commitment to their Christian faith as a symbol of hope and a possibility of a better future remind me that more justice in the world is more justice for all of us.

What lessons have you learned from that tragedy?

Whenever we experience tragedy in our personal lives, as a community or as a nation it gives us the opportunity to reflect. One thing that I have learned from Stephen’s murder and those racially motivated murders that followed; is that when we ignore injustice, it grows.

Injustice steals the future of individuals, families and communities. We cannot ignore it, we have to keep speaking out and taking action, because injustice affects us all.

The church has a vital role to play in bringing justice and mercy to the world around us. Part of living out the five marks of mission includes seeking to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation. When we collaborate, work with people who may not be like us but share the same passion for justice we can change the world we live in.

What does (or should) racial justice look like in churches?

Racial justice will be expressed differently in each church in our Diocese but, it starts with a commitment to prayerful repentance and the work of repair.

As a church, we must educate ourselves to understand what racism is and how it has evolved both within society and in our church, including the legacy of harm caused by Slavery. We will have to acknowledge and repent of those times when our racist behaviours have harmed others. That is challenging but necessary.

We need to grow to become a church that empowers people of all ethnicities within our congregations to become aware of the racist ideas we hold and work to move beyond them. Being a church that demonstrates what we believe, that all people are made in the image of God and are worthy of respect and dignity.

We must do the hard work of evaluating our structures, policies and actions to identify and remove racist practices and support new policies that promote equality for all. We must demonstrate our commitment to justice through our prayer, mission and social action, continuing to challenge injustice in our communities.

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Racial Justice Sunday is an opportunity for those of us who share the Christian faith to act against racial injustice. To use our influence in the places we live, learn, work and play to share the Bible’s teaching on human diversity; that all people are made in the image of God, and all people are worthy of dignity and respect.

Want to get involved?

Join us at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Sunday 12th February for a Eucharist Service at 10:30 am to mark Racial Justice Sunday. The Rev Shemil Matthew, Dean of Emmanuel Theological College and General Secretary of the Anglican Minority Ethnic Network (AMEN) will be joining us to speak at this special service.

We encouraging churches in the Liverpool Diocese to mark Racial Justice Sunday on 12th February 2023. Download the resources below to get involved.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland – Racial Justice Sunday 2023

Church of England Liturgical Resources for Racial Justice Sunday 

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