KXC & RACIAL JUSTICE
“We believe in the ability of our church to grow into a greater reflection of heaven where all are valued, respected and seen. We exist to hold our church family lovingly accountable as we seek to change the prevailing culture of systemic racism. Our vision is complete freedom for our church family from that. We want to reject division and seek unity, passionately and intentionally embracing ethnic minorities in the UK and calling people into visibility by bringing out their divine potential. We want to encourage KXC’s vision of ‘being a place where people are safe enough to heal and dangerous enough to grow’ and make sure that applies to everyone. We want KXC to be home where people can freely say they unquestionably belong.”
– SEVEN:NINE
SEVEN:NINE · RACIAL JUSTICE CORE TEAM
Seven:Nine exists to hold our church family lovingly accountable as we seek to change the prevailing culture of systemic racism. Alongside our Associate Team, the group consists of: Dele Ayodele, Solène Bryson, Zulum Elumogo, Tanya Follett, Lamar Henry, Keziah Joseph, Naiha Masih, Kirsty Rider, Tsebaot Samuel and Lois Tackie-Oblie.
For those in the KXC family, please do get in touch with the team directly at racialjustice@kxc.org.uk if you have any thoughts, comments or concerns. The group would love to hear from you.
NEW NAME, NEW VISION (OCTOBER 2023)
The Racial Justice Core team is taking on a new form, with a new name, as we sense a new season of focus: Seven:Nine
While we recognise the incredible provision of racial diversity at KXC, there is more work to be done. We are contending for and pointing towards the image of cultural inclusion and celebration we see in Revelation 7:9 – 'a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb’ – a vision of not just a multi-ethnic church but a multi-cultural one that reflects the heart of God and His kingdom.
Thank you to all who have carried this so far and to Jesus for the answers to prayer we have already witnessed.
CONVERSATIONS ON RACE SERIES
Towards the end of 2020 we did a midweek series called Conversations on Race as part of our journey to pursue racial healing, justice and reconciliation. As a church we want to enter into and facilitate these honest conversations so that KXC can be a place where everyone can thrive and bring their full contribution to God's story.
Over the six weeks we explored the history of systemic racism and oppression in Britain and the Church; addressed mindsets, attitudes and practices that are incompatible with life in the kingdom of God; and looked to the future as we seek to tackle racism and oppression and pursue racial justice so that all can flourish here at KXC and beyond.
We launched the series with a session from Ben Lindsay, CEO of Power the Fight and author of ‘We Need To Talk About Race’, which you can watch back here.
Stand With
The present in light of the past
Understanding privilege
Stand Against
Structural and cultural engagement
Spiritual and relational engagement
Stand For
How do we relate to power?
How do we relate to ourselves and others?
HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE (JUNE 2020)
Our vision has always been to follow the way of Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, ‘to serve God’s purpose to make all things new’. With regard to racism, we believe that the Spirit is at work right now in our culture exposing racial injustice and inequality for the purpose of healing and renewal. Pete and Bee have written a letter to our community, which you'll find below. In it, they set out the framework for how we as a church are engaging with racial injustice, and our next steps as we seek to root it out. We hope this will lead us forward as a church into greater life, greater freedom and therefore a greater foretaste of the rich diversity that will be present in heaven.