Church is Finding Both Feet Over Slave Trade

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.

|PIC1|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.

The churches represent an immediately accessible base for change on a major scale. With a little coordination and foresight, literally millions of people can be mobilised in an incredibly short amount of time. And when that many people start moving on an issue, it is hard for those in power to ignore. Even the Make Poverty History report acknowledged the absolutely key role that the churches played in the success of the movement.

Rick Warren hit upon the fact that even the smallest of towns and villages might be without schools or clinics, but what they do have is a church. Those churches across the UK are like a giant net that when pulled up it can become the net that catches 153 fish without breaking [John 21]. That is the power that the churches possesses. It's great to see the church using that to push the plight of millions suffering because of human trafficking because the church really can make a difference. Make Poverty History proved that.

What's more, Make Poverty History proved a wonderful chance for churches to share the good news of Christ and reveal the true solution to the poverty problem - each person on this planet learning to follow the gospel and share what we have freely as gifts given by God to which all are entitled equally. Similarly, the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade is a wonderful opportunity for the churches to talk about the unique and incalculable worth of each human being in the eyes of God.

Christians were complicit in the slave trade but they were also central to its abolition. Now, in the 21st century, Christians can be a key part of the solution to modern slavery and human trafficking by standing up and defending the holy worth of each human being. And it's great to see them doing just that. There is no other societal group so massive or readily mobile as the millions of churchgoers across the UK. There is no other body in the UK speaking up for human trafficking to the same extent as the churches. If they were to stop tomorrow, who would speak up for the trafficked in their place?

But the church needs to walk together. It's possible to get somewhere on one foot, but it's a whole lot easier and quicker when both feet walk together. It's the same with the churches. One church alone can do a lot. But united, all the churches together can move mountains.

The church needs to be united and active on this issue and others, even beyond 2007. When the church speaks as one body, people listen. When the church speaks as one body, the Government listens. The more the churches can find to unite on the better. This was how the church was always supposed to be, one body changing this dark and oppressed world into a world in which God's light, love and justice reigns.

That's why I'm so happy that the churches have united so absolutely over the slave trade. This is the church in its truest form: united, one, side by side with the poor and vulnerable and willing to challenge the status quo where it needs to be challenged. Through this unity God can perform great miracles. This should be the focus of the church; to find the areas it can unite on and driving forward powerfully in those. Who said the church is dead? It may lie dormant at times but it is definitely not dead. Well done churches!