The church these days is known more for what it doesn't agree on than what it does. At a time when the papers are on the watch for splits and schisms it is so good to see the church so united in its work to highlight the suffering of millions at the hands of modern slavery - human trafficking.
This month the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will lead Christians through the city of London on a walk of witness to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.Earlier in the month, it was announced that they will be joined by the President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev Graham Carter; the President of the Baptist Union, the Rev Kate Coleman; the Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Joel Edwards; the Chief Executive Officer of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, Katei Kirby; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Church Army, Mark Russell.
The churches have rallied behind the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in a big way. Resources for Lent, Easter, youth work and services have focused on the slave trade and the churches have shown incredible enthusiasm for the Amazing Grace feature film on William Wilberforce, which has in turn given birth to even more "Amazing Grace" resources all dealing with the slave trade issue and human trafficking. Church leaders, meanwhile, have called on their flocks to be aware of the modern slavery of human trafficking and made direct calls to the Government to do more to break the chains on so many men, women and children exploited not only in the UK but across the world.
The unity that has been displayed and the commitment of the churches' own resources to mobilise their flocks on this issue is testimony to what can be achieved when the churches work together. When the churches are inactive and disjointed they are invisible in society but when they unite and work together for positive change, they become a force in society that is difficult for government leaders to ignore.
