Thousands of churches across Britain and Ireland will unite together for Racial Justice Sunday 2006 on Sunday 10 September.
The day has been organised by the Churches' Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ) working with ecumenical partners. CCRJ is dedicated to building communities and breaking down barriers. Through its Racial Justice Fund, CCRJ funds small anti-racism projects and many churches raise money for the Fund each year on Racial Justice Sunday.
CCRJ Manager Andy Bruce explained, “Everyone is talking about community building. Here's how they can do something positive.”
The day particularly wants to encourage churches to take a second look at their attitudes to racism, to pray, to celebrate diversity and to work locally for racial justice.
To aid churches, a resources pack specifically created to support the event has been released in English and Welsh. It will offer guidelines, prayers, biblical reflections and ideas for action. In addition, information sheets explain both the challenges of, and how churches have responded to, the issues of racial violence, education, employment, Gypsies and Travellers, and asylum and immigration. Their resources also offer suggestions for working with children.
The Rev Claudette Douglas, CCRJ Research and Development Officer, said, “CCRJ works through the Racial Justice Fund to reach small organisations working to combat racism. This way the Fund acts as a lifeline that brings with it a network of resources and developmental support that will transform communities.”
Racial Justice Sunday is co-ordinated by the Churches' Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ) working together with the Catholic Association for Racial Justice, the Methodist Racial Justice Committee, the United Reformed Church Racial Justice Office, CYTÛN (Churches Together in Wales), the Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group, the Refugee Project of the Irish Bishops' Conference and others.
CCRJ is well-known for its anti-racism work and is responsible for Asylum Principles, published this year, and for enabling the churches to speak with one voice on asylum issues. The Churches' Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ) is a Commission of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, the official ecumenical body which brings together Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant and Pentecostal traditions.