Canadian Churches' Racial Justice Week:

Canadian Council of Churches

by: Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network

Sunday, March 25th 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the ending of the slave trade in the British Empire. The abolition law brought to an official end the forced transportation of millions of Africans from their homeland, across the Middle Passage, to the Americas. Canada was part of the British Empire and participated in the practice of slavery.

Slavery’s impact continues at the same time as modern forms of slavery are appearing. The struggle is far from over. Enslaved Africans and people of faith led the movement to abolish the slave trade. But the modern form of racism which developed to justify the enslavement of Africans remains a reality in too many of our churches and societies. People of faith need to commit anew to addressing the racism in our churches, our country and our world.

CEARN invites churches to commemorate this anniversary by participating in the ongoing journey we must take towards healing, reconciliation and the transformation of our relationships.

These ecumenical racial justice resource kits (worship materials, biblical reflection, educational materials on the slave trade, and the practice of slavery in Canada, children’s resources and much more) are annually written for the Racial Justice Week of March 25.

THE CANADIAN ECUMENICAL ANTI-RACISM NETWORK (CEARN) is an expression of Canadian churches working together to support anti-racism programs and educators who are working in member churches, sharing resources and learning among anti-racism educators, and supporting long-term change in Canadian churches and church organizations. The CEARN Steering Committee is made up of representatives from various Christian denominations, and also benefits from the active participation and leadership of staff from sister ecumenical organizations, the Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) and KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives.