Day 2
Dioceses Urged to Mark Racial Justice Sunday
Each diocese of the Church of Ireland has been urged to hold a Racial Justice Sunday Service in a format and venue of their choosing on the second Sunday of February each year. A motion, proposed by Dr Lucy Michael (Dublin and Glendalough) and the Revd Philip McKinley (Meath and Kildare) was adopted by General Synod this morning (Saturday May 11). It noted that the celebration of Racial Justice Sunday took place in the National Cathedral this year and the resources of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) to raise awareness of the issue of racial justice.
Proposing the motion, Dr Michael, who is the secretary of the Primates Reference Group on Ethnic Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Justice, said that the intention of the motion was to show that the church takes its role in addressing racism seriously.
She outlined the background of Racial Justice Sunday which was born in the Church of England in response to the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and the institutional failures that followed. Since then, it has become a space for repentance, reflection, and renewal – an annual opportunity to hear the voices of those who are too often unheard, and to reaffirm the baptismal calling to seek justice and peace.
“Here in Ireland, we are not exempt from the challenges of racism. Racial inequalities persist across many areas of life – in housing, employment, healthcare, and education. People from minority ethnic backgrounds experience higher levels of discrimination and lower levels of trust in public institutions. Racist hate crime and speech are increasing, particularly in public and online spaces. The Church must speak – and act,” Dr Michael said.
She said that many churches already marked Racial Justice Sunday and the LAC was developing a Church–specific liturgy to be ready for 2026. She said surveys by the Church of Ireland on ethnic diversity commissioned by the Archbishop of Armagh and studies by Canon Professor Anne Lodge for Dublin and Glendalough showed that racial injustice touched many church members and many members wanted to learn more about what Christians can do. This concern is reflected across the denominations.
“There has been great support for recent work inside the Church to address diversity and inclusion, and I want to thank the many people who have helped that work along. But also looking outward is crucial because the Gospel is outward–facing. Jesus did not only teach in synagogues – he healed in the streets, dined with outsiders, challenged unjust systems. He called his followers to be salt and light – not just in the Church, but in the world. We are not separate from Irish society. We are part of it. As a Church with island–wide presence and moral authority, we are uniquely placed to speak – to model reconciliation, amplify marginalised voices, and offer a vision of community rooted in the dignity of every human being,” the proposer said.
Seconding the motion, Mr McKinley said that racial justice was a recurring theme for many church organisations and there was a sense that the Holy Spirit is speaking to churches around the world at a time when the world is becoming polarised.
He suggested that worship and prayer was the first step that any Christian should undertake before action. He commented the CTBI and LAC resources and added: “These resources provide a very helpful starting point, which dioceses can then build upon. For example, each diocese is free to explore a whole range of possibilities for music, prayer, preaching, choice of venue and of course hospitality, all of which can help to bring this worship alive”.
He continued: “I truly believe that these eleven services, across the island of Ireland, could be remarkably joyous and powerful occasions for the Church of Ireland. I also believe that they could help start a fresh and vibrant dynamic for outreach within each dioceses”.
Speaking to the motion, Stella Obe (Dublin) said that racial justice was about prejudice and hate against migrants and refugees and the promotion of inequality. It was about discrimination, about our refusal to love our enemies and even our neighbours. She observed that Jesus broke the rules of social convention and said that all were one in Christ Jesus. She said the motion had implications for the Church and individuals and that Christians are called to share the Good News. She said her parish of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla was one of the best integrated in Ireland. Last year the parish held a Racial Justice Sunday service which she said was one of the most of the most fulfilling things she had ever encountered. She encouraged all parishes to do similar.
George Okikiolu (Dromore) expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the church’s response to the attacks on migrants. He said he believed Racial Justice Sunday would present a great opportunity for inclusivity. He said that the church’s response to the violence showed that the Church stood firm on the issues of justice, compassion and radical hospitality. It was his prayer that the gifts of people from different ethnic backgrounds would enrich worship and act as a catalyst for change in the church itself.
Mr Paul Dundas (Connor) said Racial Justice Sunday was an opportunity. Speaking authentically starts with listening, he stated. He said before he met his wife from Sri Lanka he thought he was committed to racial justice but said he did not know how many challenges they faced and the gifts they brought to our communities. He commended the service in St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Service on RTE last Sunday. He said there were many foreign brothers and sisters in our churches with gifts we may not be aware of and the skills and perspectives they can bring to the church. He encouraged people to listen to people from different backgrounds and be open to the Holy Spirit.
Mabel Quinn (Down) spoke about events held at her church. She said last Christmas they invited people from many backgrounds and brought them on Christmas day to celebrate with them and share food. She said the event brought everyone together and the children played together. It was not an option to welcome people but rather a Scriptural imperative, she stated.
Bishop Sarah Groves, President of the Irish Council of Churches and Co Chair of the Irish Inter Church Meeting, highlighted the work of the organisation on this issue. She urged everyone to go to their website to look at the handbook, ‘From Every Nation’. She said what the Church of Ireland was doing was part of a wider picture of work to make people feel welcome and safe. When she came to Ireland 14 years ago she could not believe how white it was and the level of racism poured out, particularly to Romanian people in Ballymena. When the riots broke out last year she said she went to meet people in Belfast. She said it was shocking to hear the stories of people of other faiths and the harassment they experienced.
Canon John Clarke (Meath and Kildare) supported the motion and said that every Sunday, every day should be a racial justice day. He said in Navan one third of the congregation was from different parts of the southern hemisphere. He said they were a natural part of the congregation. He also highlighted the growth in the Eastern Orthodox Church in Meath.
The motion was passed by Synod.