From Slavery to Freedom

Recent meetings of the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Consultative Council have called for the development of learning resources for theological education in key areas of mission across the world. One of these, increasingly recognised as central to life of the churches of the Anglican Communion, is the journey that Anglicans and others have had to make, and need to make, from slavery to freedom. Many Anglicans in different regions of the world are descended from the victims of slavery, whether of the Transatlantic slave trade, the East African slave trade, or caste systems. Others have been victims of people trafficking across the world. Anglicans are also beneficiaries of the wealth created by such trades, often without knowing this. It is vital, then, that theological education, whether for ordained or lay ministry or for the discipleship of all baptised Christians, creates time and space for raising awareness and reflecting on these dark aspects of our common history. Every Christian is called to lament and repent and to seek God’s forgiveness, and to seek God’s empowerment and hope in their discipleship in the present and future.