Racial Justice at Hampstead Parish Church
At Hampstead Parish Church, what we do is underpinned by our mission: Building an inclusive community of Christian love, faith, witness and action.
As set out in our Mission Action Plan, we are committed to seeking justice and welcoming all.
Last summer, following the tragic death of George Floyd in the US and the Black Lives Matter movement that followed, we witnessed a new and urgent impetus for scrutiny around issues of racial injustice, a need for deeper understanding, and a commitment to effect real and lasting change.
At Hampstead Parish Church, as in many organisations, we felt a need to talk, listen, reflect and take action. This is not merely about celebrating Black History Month in October, and then continuing as normal for the rest of the year. This is about examining our behaviours and actions, and being open to hear and learn from the experiences of others, however uncomfortable that might be, and then taking action to dismantle barriers and create a truly inclusive church.
We have therefore established a Racial Justice Working Party:
- To listen to the perspectives and experiences of others, and take steps to build our awareness and understanding on matters of race or ethnicity
- To raise awareness of the issues associated with race in society today and use every opportunity to promote equality and inclusion
- To promote multi-culturalism and the richness this can bring to our community and our worship
- To recognise injustices and more subtle inequalities and micro-aggressions, and to call them out
- To aim for a more complete telling of the history of our church and parish, one which includes the contribution of all races and reflects diverse historical perspectives
Wondering how you can help make a positive difference?
We are looking for people who can bring diverse perspectives, lived experiences and cultural understanding to this Working Party. If you would like to find out more, please contact Angela Gardner or the Vicar via [email protected].
Racial injustice is a complex matter and we recognise that many of us have much to learn. To help build our awareness and understanding, we encourage you to use the resources which you’ll find on the website here. And do, please, share your feedback with us.