CTE Principal Officer for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Multi-cultural Relations Min Shermara Fletcher-Hoyte, one of the conference organisers, writes…
On Saturday, 24 May 2025, leaders, theologians, ecumenists and diaspora church voices gathered at the London Jesuit Centre for an inaugural conference called The Gift of My Neighbour: Learning from Diaspora Communities. The conference aimed to be a bold and timely exploration of migration, neighbourliness and the theological riches found in churches with roots beyond the UK.
The event was jointly hosted by the Society for Ecumenical Studies (SfES), the Churches Together in England (CTE) Racial Justice Working Group, and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI). It was a key milestone for CTE’s Racial Justice Working Group (RJWG) and a historic first in its commitment to shaping theological conversations around race, belonging, and justice. The conference invited delegates to engage in “receptive learning” from non-Western Christian traditions, presenting an opportunity to not just listen, but to be transformed.
The conference was chaired by Rev Dr Callan Slipper, Chair of CTE and SfES and Rev Dr Lurliene Miller, Former Chair of CTE’s RJWG. Dr Dulcie Dixon McKenzie (Centre for Black Theology, Queen’s Foundation) delivered a powerful keynote on Biblical Interpretation: A Black Theological Hermeneutic. Rev Dr Israel Olofinjana (One People Commission, Evangelical Alliance) provoked fresh thinking with What’s Race Got to Do with Climate Change? moderated by CTBI’s Richard Reddie and challenged the room with the reality that the consequences of Western consumption are felt by black and brown nations.
An ecumenical and diaspora-led panel on ecclesiology, chaired by me, included Rev David Whyte, Rev Rebecca Daniel, and Rev Dr Girma Bishaw. Dr Girma issued a gentle yet revolutionary challenge to the room asking them to “Learn the art of wasting time together.” There were many gasps and laughs, but essentially, he was highlighting that it is in unhurried, sacred presence that neighbourliness is nurtured. In a society obsessed with efficiency and human value qualified by production, this call was powerfully counter-cultural. Girma also reminded us that conflict doesn’t just rupture relationships, it wounds communities, making healing a communal task.
The General Secretary of Churches Together in England, Bishop Mike Royal, said: “During the course of this conference we learned to more deeply appreciate the huge contribution diaspora communities make to this country and that “difference” is something to learn from and celebrate, not fear”.
From climate justice to ecclesiology, from song to Scripture, every element of the day challenged dominant narratives around nationhood, race and belonging. Theologically, the day reclaimed the truth that Jesus was a migrant and refugee. The Gospel travelled through movement, through wilderness, exile, diaspora and return. In this light, migration isn’t a problem to be solved but a vehicle through which God speaks and acts. The provocative question is would the global policies today include or exclude the Jesus we are called to follow?
We were also joined by international gospel artist Noel Robinson and Juliet Fletcher, the visionary founder of Songshare, a platform amplifying Caribbean and African composers across the churches of Britain and Ireland. Their contributions in worship and creative reflection enriched the day with prophetic sound and cultural depth.
The closing reflections from Dionne Gravesande (Christian Aid) and Fr Dominic Robinson (London Jesuit Centre), captured the spirit of the day: rich, global, and deeply rooted in hope. Finally, in a world suspicious of the ‘other,’ this conference prophetically proclaimed: our neighbour is not a threat but a gift and asked the ultimate question, who gets to decide who belongs?