Church leaders who make up the ecumenical partnership of Churches Together In South London issued the following joint statement:
We stand together and work together to oppose and disrupt injustice in its many forms.
In anticipation of the 30th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which we mark this year on 22 April, we call on the Government to pursue the dismantling of racism in all its structures including our police, our schools, our hospitals, and our employers. We are blessed by the rich ethnic diversity of South London communities and ask individuals and churches to persist in the work of anti-racism, to listen and learn and heal divisions.
We ask the Government to root out misogyny and sexism from the police and fire services and to protect women and all victims of predatory behaviour. We ask the Government to intervene to stop serious youth violence so that our young people can become old people. We want to be a society where everyone can walk home free from fear and knowing they can trust in the services designed to protect them.
Faith communities are doing so much to support people to stay warm and well during this cost of living crisis, providing warm, welcoming hubs and coordinating locally so that this offer is available in different places on different days. We want to see the Government ensure that energy is available at an affordable rate to people in their homes, and that energy companies are not profiting at the expense of ordinary people’s health and safety. Climate injustice impacts on the poorest of our sisters and brothers around the world, and the cost of energy also impacts on the most vulnerable of our neighbours here.
Jesus offered the ultimate welcome and levelling up to all he met, and we draw hope and inspiration from his teaching. Christians bring to this ongoing work for justice a vision of reconciliation rooted in grace, mercy and peace.
