God weaves people and events together

As we approach the 30th anniversary of Racial Justice Sunday, Bevan Powell, Director for Inclusion, reflects on how God weaves people and events together, often in ways that are not immediately apparent.

Today, as divisions in society grow deeper, the need for racial justice is as urgent as ever. We live in a time when the process of ‘othering’ has taken hold, where the blame for social inequalities, whether the lack of affordable housing, lack of job opportunities, or public services, all too often placed on the foreigner, the outsider. The riots in the summer of 2024 were a stark reminder that injustice, exclusion, and scapegoating do not simply disappear, they fester and poison unless we confront them with truth, love, and a commitment to justice.

Racial Justice Sunday is not just a symbolic day, it is a call to action. It reminds us that racial justice is not an abstract concept but a living expression of our faith. It is a challenge to see God’s love and image in every person we encounter, to reject narratives of hate, and to stand together in solidarity. My own journey has shown me how faith and the struggle for justice are inseparable, and as we mark this anniversary, we must reaffirm our commitment to building a society where all are welcome, valued, and are treated with dignity and respect.

I recall my time in the Metropolitan Police Service, deeply shaken by the tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence. I had the privilege of helping to support the Lawrence family in their unstinting struggle for justice, unaware at the time that they were Methodist, not that it would have mattered. In 1998 I gave evidence to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, shaping the definition and scope of ‘Institutional Racism’. At the time I was the General Secretary of the Metropolitan Black Police Association.

I became a member of Harlesden Methodist Church, where Rev’d David Haslam had served as Superintendent Minister. David was someone I knew well, and his influence had already touched my life in profound ways. As Secretary of the Churches’ Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ), he had played a key role in securing a grant for the Black Police Association, helping to strengthen and develop our work. It was David, alongside other members of the CCRJ, who conceived and launched Racial Justice Sunday, establishing a legacy that continues to challenge and inspire Christians across the United Kingdom.