Baptists gather at slavery museum
Thursday 24 April 2008
Written by Mark Woods, Baptist Times
Baptists in the North West chose an unusual venue for their annual general meeting and Association forum last Saturday – but a highly appropriate one. Liverpool was a centre for the transatlantic slave trade, and the North Western Baptist Association’s (NWBA) gathering was in the city’s Albert Dock, home to the International Slavery Museum.
The venue was chosen because the Forum was used to reflect on the Baptist Union of Great Britain’s (BUGB) apology for the slave trade last November. Around 180 delegates were present, representing around 80 Baptist and Independent Methodist churches.
Among others who took part were BUGB general secretary the Revd Jonathan Edwards, and London Baptist Association regional minister the Revd Kumar Rajagopalan. Participants were invited to join small groups exploring why some people remain uneasy about the apology, and how local churches can address the issues.
A visit to the museum’s exhibition formed part of the programme, which concluded with those present standing to repeat the words of the Council’s original apology.
NWBA regional minister the Revd Phil Jump said, ‘Had we been meeting here 250 years ago, the very ships that carried the slaves from Africa to the Plantations would have been moored on these quaysides.
‘People will not forget being here, and we hope that the ongoing issues of racial justice and modern-day slavery will never be far from the consciousness of our churches.
‘One person told me that in just 30 minutes his attitude had radically changed and he now realised the vital importance of these issues.’ Mr Edwards spoke of the ‘poignancy’ of meeting at the Albert Dock, and added: ‘The decision at last November’s Council to offer an apology for the transatlantic slave trade was a remarkable and historic moment, but it is vital for the implications of that decision to be worked out around the country.
‘Offering an apology for the slave trade is but one issue. The main challenge is to work out what the Gospel really means for our society today in terms of tearing down all the walls that separate us.
‘I pray that Saturday’s Forum will have been a great encouragement to all who attended as we work through these vital Gospel issues in our churches.’ The Forum also saw the Wirral Chinese Christian Church welcomed into the Association, reflecting its increasing ethnic diversity.
BBC Radio Merseyside’s Daybreak programme on Sunday 20 April featured interviews with BUGB General Secretary Jonathan Edwards, North Western Baptist Association Regional Minister Phil Jump, and London Baptist Association Regional Minister Kumar Rajagopalan at the NWBA Forum.
To listen, download by clicking here.
(Please note: the file is 8MB so may take a while to download depending on the speed of your internet connection)