Justice - Racial, Women, Disability
The Faith and Unity Department have responsibility for a number of key areas of work that can be understood collectively as 'equality and diversity issues'. We believe justice concerns belong at the heart of our faith, and so we are seeking to ensure that the life and structures of BUGB reflect our commitment to these issues, and that we work together to build inclusive communities.
The key areas of engagement have been named as racial justice, women's justice and disability justice. In addition, sexuality issues have also been recognised as part of this broad agenda. The work on equality and diversity issues has grown steadily and significantly, and we are now forming three Justice Groups that will help carry forward our commitments.
Racial Justice
Racial justice issues have been recognised as a key concern for many years, with a Racial Justice Adviser appointed by BUGB in 2002. the work is supported by the Racial Justice Group. Particular initiatives have included the development of racial justice training provided for all involved in Baptist ministry and now delivered through Colleges and Associations, and the holding of an annual multicultural event known as 'The Gathering'.
In November 2007, BUGB passed the following resolution to mark the anniversary of the passing of the Slave Trade Act abolishing slavery:
As a Council we have listened to one another, we have heard the pain of hurting sisters and brothers, and we have heard God speaking to us. In a spirit of weakness, humility and vulnerability, we acknowledge that we are only at the start of a journey, but we are agreed that this must not prevent us speaking and acting at a Kairos moment.
Therefore, we acknowledge our share in and benefit from our nation's participation in the transatlantic slave trade.
We acknowledge that we speak as those who have shared in and suffered from the legacy of slavery and its appalling consequences for God's world.
We offer our apology to God and to our brothers and sister for all that has created and still perpetuates the hurt which originated from the horror of slavery.
We repent of the hurt we have caused, the divisions we have created, our reluctance to face up to the sin of the past, our unwillingness to listen to the pain of our black sisters and brothers, and our silence in the face of racism and injustice today.
We commit ourselves, in a true spirit of repentance, to take what we have learned from Godin the Council and to share ir widely in our Baptist community and beyond, looking for gospel ways by which we can turn the words and feelings we have expressed today into concrete actions and contribute to the prophetic work of God's coming Kingdom.
This has led to the development of an ongoing programme of work known as 'The Journey' with the aim of ensuring that BUGB develops into a fully multicultural Union.
Current Work
- Continued work on 'The Journey' - now implementing a series of recommendations agreed by BUGB Council
- The 2011 Gathering event was held on 15 October at Brixton Baptist Church. The theme was 'Shaping the Future - what does it mean to be men and women working together'. For more information on next year's Gathering, watch this space!
- Out of Many One People (Cultures in Communion) is the title of a celebration evening. A team of four ministers from the Jamaican Baptist Union, including the Revd Karl Johnson, the General Secretary, will help us consider the importance of cultural difference, and ways in which it can be celebrated to strengthen Baptist churches. For those actively developing multicultural churches, this practical evening event aims to provide churches with some of the tools to build culturally creative communities. Hosted by Edmonton Baptist Church, The Green, Monmouth Road, Edmonton, N9 0LS on 19 May from 17.00 - 21.00.
- The Sam Sharpe Project was launched on 10 May at the Jamaican High Commission in London. It is hoped that the Sam Sharpe Project will be an important contribution to the field of Black Baptist Studies and will also support The Journey, by assisting the Racial Justice Working Group of BUGB in its implementation of the recommendations accepted by BU Council. It anticipates work over an initial two year phase, with the hope that sufficient momentum and resources can be gained to sustain the project beyond this initial period. The Sam Sharpe Project website has more information: www.samsharpeproject.org
Key Resources
- A free DVD of bible study material relating to 'The Apology' is available from Baptist House. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to order a copy.
Women's Justice
A Women's Issues Working Group was established by BUGB Council in 1996 to promote the gifts and ministries of women. This is now known as the Women's Justice Group, and continues to work to ensure gender equality within the life and structures of BUGB, as well as maintaining national and international links with women's organisations. One specific area of work has been to enable churches to understand and respond appropriately to issues of domestic violence.
In March 2010, BUGB Council passed the following resolution:
This Council
a) affirms the historic commitment of the Baptist Union of Great Britain to
- the full inclusion of women in all areas of leadership in church life,
- the ordination and accreditation of women to ministry amongst us;
- the service of women in all aspects of missionary work including the work of biblical and theological teaching and church leadership.
b) celebrates the increasing number of women who are now exercising leadership within BUGB, both as ministers and in other capacities.
c) recognises with concern the continuing struggle for full acceptance faced by many women in all areas of leadership, and in particular the difficulties many face in having their own call validated and in receiving a call from a church.
d) calls upon the Faith and Unity Department and the Ministry Department to work with Associations, Colleges and churches to identify
- steps already being taken to develop ministry in ways that are fully inclusive of women,
- opportunities that currently exist for women fully to explore their sense of calling,
- obstacles that prevent the acceptance of women for training, ministry, and all forms of wider leadership.
e) commits to hearing further from the Faith and Unity Executive at its meeting in March 2011, and so to discern ways of addressing barriers to the full participation of women in all forms of leadership within BUGB.
This forms the basis for ongoing work by the Women's Justice Group.
Current Work
- resources are being developed on the subject of women in leadership to support the resolution agreed by Council.
- work on domestic violence continues, currently the Breaking the Silence pack of resources is being revised.
- promotion of 'Thursdays in Black' following the 2010 Assembly resolution
Key Resources
- Domestic Violence leaflets
Thursdays in Black - Women, Baptists and Ordination (£4.00)
- The Story of Women in Ministry in the Baptist Union of GB (£5.00)
Disability Justice
Work with, and on behalf of, those with learning disabilities has been undertaken by the Baptist Union Initiative with People with Learning Disabilities (BUild) over many years. This organisation has provided a range of resources and advice for use in churches. BUild is now helping BUGB develop a wider engagement with disability issues through the Disability Justice Group.
The Disability Justice Group was inaugurated in November 2011 at a meeting in Didcot. The work of BUild has been invaluable in building the foundations of the new DJG, but the remit of the latter will be broader and not limited to learning disabilities. Defining the parameters of the DJG will require sensitivity and flexibility, and may take time and need frequent revision.
The DJG hopes to stay close to its user communities, and will ensure that people with disabilities are represented on the Group, and that consultation with others in focus groups is sought where appropriate and helpful. Particular attention will be paid to the language used in documents and in advice to churches, colleges, and other groups within the Union.
Current Work
- formulating a research programme around the collection and use of data relating to issues of disability: How many of the Baptist family are considered to have a disability? Where are they? How well are they served with information and resources etc?
- developing a bibliography of useful information, resources and reflective theological work on disability matters.
- considering and developing guidance on language.
- continuing to review the parameters of the DJG – what about groups of people not normally considered as having disabilities: children with disabilities, the Deaf community, and people with mental health issues?
- working on access issues – physical, cognitive, sensory and cultural.
Faith & Unity News
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