Evangelicals: 'Legacy of Slave Trade Should be a Modern Call for Justice'

The Evangelical Alliance has called on Christians to be inspired by the brave struggles of the slave trade abolitionists who fought 200 years ago, and to demand justice for the poor and oppressed in the modern day era.

Evangelical Christians - including William Wilberforce and Olaudah Equiano - were at the forefront of turning the tide in British public opinion and securing the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.

The alliance is appealing to Christians now to follow in the footsteps of these Evangelical pioneers, in a booklet entitled 'Slavery, Abolition and Evangelicals' launched at the House of Commons last night.

Public Policy Director Dr R David Muir wrote the booklet and is also giving a keynote speech, on the unfinished work of slavery and abolition, at the Home Office Staff Network Conference on March 29.

He called the bicentenary "one of the defining moments in modern British history", providing an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of slavery and the struggles of the slaves and masses of ordinary people who fought against an immoral system of brutality and death.

"The bicentenary is also a timely reminder of the rich legacy of the role Evangelicals played in the abolition of the slave trade, as well as a renewed challenge for Christians today to actively 'promote justice and compassion for the poor, vulnerable and oppressed'," he said.

The Evangelical Alliance's General Director, Joel Edwards, is taking part in the Church of England's Walk of Witness today and will speak at Birmingham's abolition commemoration event on Sunday. He called abolition a "monumental achievement".

"For the first time in human history, a civilisation rose up to say that the very concept of slavery was unacceptable," he said.

"The black man became a brother."

He added that everyone - whether descendants of slaves or slave owners - should be concerned about the economic slavery that continues to kill modern day Africans, finding out more through resources and campaigns such as Set All Free, Stop the Traffik and Micah Challenge.

"Global poverty is an affront to human dignity and we must press our world governments to keep their promises to the poor," he said.

"Perhaps the greatest legacy of abolition should be our combined and sustained response to the current plight of the African continent."

Slavery, Abolition and Evangelicals examines biblical perspectives on slavery and society, looks at the nature of slavery and the contributions of some key abolitionists and offers suggested activities for churches and groups to mark the bicentenary.

Resources are available from the Evangelical Alliance website: www.eauk.org