Black Lives Matter

Alongside our response to COVID-19 and the easing of the lockdown we have seen a crying out for racial justice across the world. The Black Lives Matter protests in Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Telford, Bridgnorth and many other towns across our Diocese, we recognise the need to respond to this with love and compassion to tackle racial injustice.

We know that there is work for us to do in this area and we are starting to look at this across a number of areas:

  • Challenge and address institutional racism, listening to and learning from the experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people;
  • Recruit and support more Black, Asian and minority ethnic clergy, staff and volunteers;
  • Acknowledge and repent of the Church’s past involvement in and benefit from the slave trade;
  • Make our churches truly welcoming to everyone, taking responsibility for the need for profound cultural change in our Church.
  • Work with others in Hereford Diocese and the Church of England to bring these things about

Our record in this area in the Church of England is not good and Bishop Richard is encouraging us to begin by looking at ourselves. 

Resources