Old, White and Male: white Christian activists and racial justice

In the last 40 years, activism in racial justice has undergone a series of changes, in response to the pervasive and persistent character of racism in church and society. With fast-moving developments in superdiversity, identity politics, decline of the mainline denominations, postcolonial theologies, the Black Lives Matter movement, and hostility towards immigration and refugees – there are growing calls for collaborative action to combat racial injustices.

• What has been and should be the role of white church leaders and activists in these struggles?
• Has anything changed for the better and what is the future of faith involvement in these issues?

If you are a church activist, theologian, clergy trainer, social science academics, or any anyone interested in racial justice and identity politics – this is the course for you.

What will you learn?

The two-hour session explores and reflects on the history of racial justice struggles in Britain and the church’s engagement with these struggles, including its achievements and failures. It will be structured around an autobiographical account of over 40 years involvement by one activist in a variety of settings. Participants will benefit from reading in advance this online document. A number of other activists and theologians with diverse ethnic and other identities will respond to the presentation from their contexts and positionality.

Finally in an open question and discussion session we will critically evaluate the notion of whiteness in relation to Black identity and engage with different methods and examples of racial justice campaigns. The course will equip you with a more nuanced understanding of how Christians, and particularly those racialised as White, can play a helpful role in delivering racial justice.

Come to the session and learn how to work for racial justice now and in the coming decade.

Who will you learn with?

Greg Smith has worked for over 40 years in urban mission, community development and social research. He has published extensively on religion in the inner city and urban theology. Until retirement in 2019 Greg was employed supporting faith-based social action and urban churches. He continues to be active in the City of Sanctuary movement in Preston, in networks addressing food poverty and financial inclusion, and as a lay leader in a multi-ethnic inner city parish church. Greg’s community work in Newham in the 1970s first made him conscious of racial injustice and he has continued to live and work actively in multicultural neighbourhoods ever since. In 2018 he wrote a Temple Tract The Revenge of the Racists in which he reviewed recent changes and challenges to multiculturalism. He is a Senior Associate Research Fellow of the Foundation and is commissioning editor of our Urban Tracts . In a recent blog he reflected on his own positionality.

This session has been developed as part of the William Temple Festival of Public Theology which will take place on 21-22 June 2024. The Festival offers an innovative online programme of short courses about theology, plurality and activism in public life. Building on the earlier traditions of William Temple College, it draws on current research and expertise of scholars affiliated with the William Temple Foundation.

**This taster session is offered on a 'pay as you feel' basis. Your donations are much appreciated**