Black church leaders to celebrate change

Key black majority church leaders are to meet this week in London to celebrate the achievements and of one the most vibrant and fastest-growing areas of the UK church.

The conference, called “The Black Church from Windrush to Obama: changing church, changing society”, which is being held in Black History Month, will see leaders share their successes in serving their church and local communities, explore challenges facing the church and investigate ways they can become even more effective in future.

Dr R David Muir, Executive Director of Public Theology for the Evangelical Alliance UK and a member of the Black Christian Leaders Forum, said, “Black-majority churches will remain an entrenched part of British religious life partly because they fulfil a significant cultural and pastoral role in our pluralist society and offer alternative methods of evangelisation.

“Black Christianity has been a major part of the re-evangelisation of Britain over the last 60 years and will continue to be so in the future.”

Dr Albert Odulele, Senior Pastor of Glory House, said, “This conference highlights the crucial part that the Black Church has played in British society over recent decades. If you want to explore the heritage, possibilities and potential for the church in 21st century Britain, then I would encourage you not to miss this event.”

Speakers at the conference will include Dr Odulele, the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Labour Vice Chair for Faith Groups, Bishop Eric Brown, Administrative Bishop with the New Testament Church of God, Rev Nezlin Sterling, of the New Testament Assembly, and Dr Robert Beckford, theologian and film maker.

The conference is taking place on Friday starting at 9:30 am at Epainos Ministries in London. All participants will receive free lunch and refreshments, two free books and a copy of the 2009 Oliver Lyseight Annual Lecture.

Faith and community leaders, as well as public policy makers are all welcome to this free conference. Attendees are asked to confirm their places by Wednesday 28 October by email or telephone. Please contact Valeria Kovalak at v.kovalak@eauk.org or 020 7207 2132.