Racial Justice Covenant
We are blessed to have people from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds in our church community. We recognise we still have some way to go to be fully integrated and so seek to reflect that richness as we journey alongside each other as one people, learning from one another.
The Parochial Church Council of St Andrew’s has adopted the Racial Justice Covenant published by the Diocese of Guildford, with its affirmation that:
” We, as a parish church of Jesus Christ, affirm that every human being is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and redeemed through the reconciling work of Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:14–16).
Racism contradicts the Gospel and the calling of the Church to be a sign and foretaste of God’s kingdom (Revelation 7:9).
Therefore, we commit ourselves to seek racial justice, dismantle prejudice, and create a community where the love of Christ is shown to every person regardless of race, ethnicity, or culture. “
You can read the Racial Justice Covenant document in pdf form by clicking on the poster image or here.
Five Commitments
The Covenant has five areas of focus that we, as a parish, seek to implement and develop.
- Discipleship
- Diversity
- Community
- Representation and Leadership
- Accountability and Transparency
Implementation Steps
- Offer opportunities for learning and theological reflection on racial justice.
- Review our church’s culture, worship, and ministries to ensure they are racially inclusive.
- Partner with local community organisations and churches to promote racial harmony and shared witness to Christ’s kingdom.
Guildford Diocese and Racial Diversity
For more on the background to this covenant and additional resources, see the Racial Diversity page on the Guildford Diocese website.