Black History Month and Extraordinary Saints

October 9, 2019 Emma Collins

Black History Month allows us to take time to consider the individuals who have been relegated not just to the side-lines of history but forgotten through the ages. Sharon Prentis, Intercultural Mission Enabler and Dean of BAME Affairs for the Church of England in Birmingham tells us that whilst there has been a marked improvement in acknowledging black and minority involvement historically, there is still a long way to go.

The book Every Tribe came about as a result of a conversation with a group of colleagues about ethnically diverse saints. After much thought, we could only name a few: St Augustine of Hippo who came from North Africa and St George from the Holy Land. However, a quick search on the Internet revealed that quite a few more existed, many of whom we had never heard of. It struck me that the stories of those new to me were historical witnesses of God’s grace. How they overcame challenges could be a source of inspiration for us today. As I began to do further research, I was convinced how important it was for everyone, irrespective of ethnicity and cultural background, to understand that our church history should reflect a variety of voices.

Every Tribe attempts to tell the stories of Christians from different parts of the world through the lens of different perspectives. The premise is that there are many people who are a part of God’s story and following Jesus is an invitation that is extended to everyone. Stories about saints such as Augustine, Martin de Porres, Alphonsa and Kuriakose Elias Chavara who hailed from different parts of the world, speaks to our multi-ethnic society and affirms various identities and journeys. You begin to realise that they were ordinary people called to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. No longer are they relegated to someone else’s history, they become part of your own. Even where they are well known, like England’s national St George, history has often downplayed the fact that he originated not from England but from another part of the world, or that others faced challenges because they were from a different background. When we learn about their lives, struggles, beliefs and how they overcame adversity we see something not only of their courage, but God’s grace that in turn affirms our own journey in faith.

Living in Birmingham I deeply appreciate that the modern world is undeniably a global one. Yet, sadly although we live in increasingly diverse cities, people have never felt more concerned about being equally accepted based on their culture and ethnicity. Our society is not always an inclusive one where everyone experiences being treated with the equality, dignity and fairness. People still face discrimination and marginalisation based on their social status, cultural heritage and religious backgrounds. However, while we have laws against overt discrimination, exclusion is much more nuanced taking the form of lowered expectations of a group of people, micro-aggression and othering. When the status quo of entitlement is questioned by people from diverse backgrounds we are often seen as being overly sensitive at best or belligerent at worst. But why do we still have a lack of representation in mainstream church leadership and other spheres? Why do we continue to have an over-representation of minority ethnic communities in prison, mental health institutions and among those who live in temporary accommodation? These are questions of righteousness and justice.

Community is the beating heart of society. I believe that anything that divides people leads to disunity. When this happens in the Church it diminishes the Church’s witness of God in the world. I believe unity in the body of Christ is a powerful witness to peace and reconciliation and gives us credibility to speak to the alienation many feel in our communities and nation. The good news of the Gospel based on the message of love, salvation and hope is needed now more than ever. The people written about in Every Tribe acted out of their hope in Christ and love for others. They are examples of wanting to share that love with others.

One of the main goals of Every Tribe was to convey simply the stories of these extraordinary saints in an unusual way. It is a collective effort to tell their stories that causes the reader to stop and think. Each chapter written by someone who themselves hails from a diverse background is followed by prayers, questions and reflections to enable the reader to consider that we are all a part of the great cloud of witnesses spoken of in Hebrews 12:1.

Black History Month allows us to take time to consider how those individuals who have been relegated not just to the side-lines of history but forgotten through the ages. We remember with gratitude how they have contributed to who we are today. While mainstream history often neglects to tell their story, there is an attempt to readdress that lack. Nevertheless, although we have seen a marked improvement in acknowledging black and minority involvement historically, there is still a long way to go. It is only in the last 10 to 15 years that we have started to look at our iconography, liturgy and ask serious questions about if our worship and ecclesiology truly reflects the whole people of God?

We are living in complex times. The rate of technological and social changes tends to benefit the few and not the majority as had hoped. We still have major issues with poverty and inequality in wider society. War and natural disasters disproportionally affect majority global world populations. We are called to care for the earth and one another. Our liberation is mutual.

As Christ disciples we need to keep asking ourselves who is missing from our Churches. Wherever possible, the communion table as the table fellowship with God and one another, should be representative. We must always ask ourselves, ‘does what we see and experience reflect the kingdom of God in all its fullness?’ If we are called to ‘go and make disciples’ are we making disciples that only look like the many and not the few? These are difficult questions that we must not be afraid to ask because the answers reflect something of our courage to love as Christ did.