Readings

Reading Galatians 3.1-5

Gospel Luke 11.5-13

Sermon

Over the past three years during Black History month I share stories of black people who have contributed to society. However, today I wanted to give some context into understanding why it is important for everyone to not only reflect and share these stories, but to also speak out against racism.

In June 2020 the Church of England’s House of Bishops commissioned a taskforce to investigate institutional racism within the Church of England and implement significant cultural and structural change on issues of racial justice within the Church of England. This report is called Lament to Action and can be found on the Church of England website. The House of Bishops stated that for the church to be a credible voice in calling for change across the world, we must now ensure that apologies and lament are accompanied by swift actions leading to real change.

You might be wondering why as an institution we have anything to apologise for. To be honest there are lots of things that as an institution we need to apologise for, but this morning I wanted to bring to your attention that for the last 40 years or so, the Church of England has commissioned 25 reports relating to racial justice, which have been presented to General Synod (our governing body) starting with Faith in the City which was published in 1985. What has become apparent when looking back at the last 40 years of reports is that pretty much none of the recommendations that these twenty-five reports have offered to General Synod over the last 40 years have been implemented. Many of the recommendations that the new report provide are ones which have been recommended again and again and again. Something needs to change, and that change is the responsibility of all of us as a Christian community.

Sharing black people’s stories is not just the job of black people, it needs to be everyone’s job. It is one of the reasons for Black History month, to encourage everybody to share these stories. If you consider yourself to not be racist, it is not enough to not say racist things, that’s the minimum that people who consider themselves as not racist should be doing. If you believe you are not racist, then you should be challenging people who say racist things, you should be questioning the systems that are unjust and unbiased towards people of colour. It shouldn’t be the job of people of colour to convince white people to help them have a more equal place in society.

If your brother or sister of colour asks you for a fish, will you give a snake instead? The Church has for too long ignored the knock at the door of the friend asking for bread. As an institution we have been safely tucked up in bed with our children and not willing to open the door. Yet Jesus says, ask and it will be given, knock and the door will be open to you. In the story it is clear that having to get out of bed and get those loaves of bread is inconvenient, there is a personal sacrifice that is made. The same is true if we want to bring real change to this institution, change that brings real justice, not just for black people but actually for everyone. Enabling equality opens up a world of change for everyone in the long run because, For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  

It is time to open the door and share the bread we have.

Amen