We want to speak with you about the events of the last few weeks both in the USA and here in the UK. We have been deeply distressed by what has taken place.
The death of George Floyd was an extreme expression of the racism and injustice that is experienced by so many, not just in the USA but also in our country and in our Church family.
We just want to start this with an apology. We haven’t spoken to this situation yet and that has been a missed moment on our part. Just so you understand our context. Last week we had booked annual leave to be present with our extended family. Both sides of our family have needed our time and attention because of very significant health issues, so we weren’t present to our staff team or in a visible way to you as Church in this crisis and for that we are sorry.
We are however taking time to listen, learn and to pray. We’re grateful for what our team posted and expressed in our absence and we want you as Birmingham Vineyard to know the depth of our concern.
We emphatically condemn racism in all its forms. Racism is a violation of the character of God and an insult to his image that is expressed in every person.
As His Church, we are made a new family in Christ with a shared identity as sons and daughters. We are called to express this unity. We are to be a place where people of every nation, tribe, and language can worship God together.
With every personal story of discrimination we are hearing, our understanding, empathy and pain grows because when one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. We weep with those who weep and we mourn with those who mourn. These are days in which we are called to grieve together over the injustices that have been done to our brothers and sisters.
Racism is evil. It should have no place in society and it should certainly have no place in the church. We all have blind spots, and many of us who are white, don’t realise how what we say or don’t say, or do or don’t do, might inadvertently exclude or wound others. That is not our heart and if you are from a Black, Asian and Minority ethnic background and you have experienced anything like that in the context of this Church we want to know and we want to ask your forgiveness.
Let’s grow in our understanding and make steps to change. As your leaders we’re not just making a comment in this cultural moment, we’re deeply committed to listening, learning and leading differently. As white people we may never fully understand what you’ve experienced. We want to hear from you, we want to listen to your stories, and together we want to search our hearts, repent, comfort and walk with each other.
Thank you for being present, engaged and honest so we can become everything God calls us to be, namely a Church filled with faith, hope and love.
It’s an answer to Rosie and my prayers over many years that Birmingham Vineyard is changing, becoming much more diverse, more reflective of this wonderful, multi-cultural city which we love, and where we are called to serve. We are richer because of that change. But we freely acknowledge that we have a long way to go to fully express God’s kingdom in all its diversity. We’ve seen incremental change. But we need to see significant change at every level so people from all backgrounds can fully encounter God, enjoy authentic safe community and discover a place to become everything Jesus has called them to be, fully expressing their discipleship and leadership gifts in the Church and in all of life.
On Sunday we will be speaking more into this subject and explaining how we can lean into this journey together and what we will be actively doing to respond practically.
We want you to know that we love everyone who considers Birmingham Vineyard their home. Join us as we pray for God’s Kingdom to come and his will to be done.
Thank you all.
Every blessing,
Andrew & Rosie
(To view Andrew & Rosie’s video message, go to Birmingham Vineyard’s Facebook page: facebook.com/vineyardbham)