Black churches
Delegates representing some of Britain’s largest Black-led churches have agreed a plan to change the relationship between the Black church movement in Britain and the British political process.
At a meeting on 17 July, speakers, including Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote, Rev. George Hargreaves of the Christian Party, and academic and documentary presenter Dr Robert Beckford, committed themselves to writing a new manifesto.
Meeting under the aegis of Churches Together in England’s (CTE’s) Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs, the group committed itself to write a Black Church Political Manifesto within six months — well ahead of the next general election — after engaging in a wide-ranging consultation process.
The manifesto will map the challenges faced by the Black community in Britain, the actions the Black church movement itself will take, and the demands it will make in return for the votes of the Black Christian community.
Dr Beckford said, ‘The Black church in Britain is bewitched by the curse of colonial Christianity that has rendered it politically docile and un-prophetic.
‘As well as being a plan for action, this manifesto will represent an apology by the Black church in Britain to the Black community for being politically silent for too long’.
The meeting also called upon the Black Church and community to engage in political resistance where appropriate, as well as urging that they vote at elections and join the political process at all levels.
