Social Justice Resource
As an Association we want to support ministers and churches who are engaging with issues of justice that affect our society.
We want to encourage Baptists to hear the call of the gospel to work for freedom, peace and justice.
FairTrade:
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.
Working with the Fairtrade Foundation, churches can commit themselves to be Fairtrade Churches by promising to:
-
use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and in all meetings for which you have responsibility
-
move forward on using other Fairtrade products such as sugar, biscuits and fruit
-
promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight and during the year through events, worship and other activities whenever possible
Refugee Crisis:
Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary of Baptist Together has issued a statement and encouraged local churches to:
-
explore afresh the Biblical perspectives within our Gospel tradition that inform our response to the refugee and stranger
-
respond through prayer both to the individual plight of the many thousands of people who continue to seek refuge, and for the political situations which both cause and offer resolution to this crisis
-
offer practical responses working as much as possible in partnership with other concerned citizens both from within our Christian community and beyond
-
contact their MPs to share concerns and inform future debates in Parliament
Click here to download study and prayer resources for your church
Watch this interview with Revd Steve Tinning on how your church can respond:
Modern Slavery:
Modern Slavery is the second most profitable worldwide criminal enterprise after the illegal arms trade. There are an estimated 40.3 million people kept in modern slavery in the world today including:
-
10 million children
-
24.9 million people in forced labour
-
15.4 million people in forced marriage
-
4.8 million people in forced sexual exploitation
-
1 in 4 victims of Modern Slavery are children
For many of our churches and communities the different forms of modern slavery are a new issue. There is a need to be able to spot the signs of modern slavery and know how to respond.
There are many organisations who fight against Modern Slavery. The following websites contain further information relating to Modern Slavery as well as videos, apps, posters, resources and opportunities for speakers to run workshops.