World Horizons International — Statement on Racial Justice

The World Horizons International Directorate Team has worked together with other members of the World Horizons community to compose this statement on racial justice for our movement.

‘If one part suffers, every part suffers with it’ (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Following the murder of George Floyd in the USA, a renewed awakening to the reality of historical and systemic racism has spread around the world. World Horizons is an international family that explicitly values cross-cultural community. Racism is an issue that we cannot ignore.

We in the International Directorate Team recognise that World Horizons members both come from, and work in nations where these systemic injustices exist. We are convicted that the engagement of God’s justice and shalom are inseparable from the heart of the Gospel. We see that in the beginning God created all humans ‘in His own image’ (Genesis 1:27). We see at Pentecost the Holy Spirit gather and unite the early church from ‘every nation under heaven’ (Acts 2:5). We see that God reveals in the end that there will be ‘a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb’ (Revelation 7:9). As members of the body of Christ we want to humble ourselves, learn and promote the pursuit of ethnic equality, justice (redress of wrongs) and racial reconciliation.

We repent and ask for forgiveness from both God and our brothers and sisters from among the nations, because we recognise that we have not always got things right, whether that is today or in the past. As we seek to become ‘blameless and pure, children of God without fault’ and as we seek to work out our salvation ‘with fear and trembling’ (Philippians 2:12-15) we commit to being and doing better by our brothers and sisters. May our Lord Jesus help and guide us as we submit to God’s love for the nations.

We affirm the ministries and individuals that are actively engaging and empowering our black brothers and sisters in their calling. We have members of World Horizons who have experienced racism, discrimination and prejudice. Maybe that is you, in which case we want to acknowledge your experiences, support you and take immediate action.

We acknowledge that there are no quick fixes and that continued education, listening and dialogue is required. A working group will explore and discuss these issues within our movement so that any initiatives taken result in meaningful change.

Finally, as a movement that has found hearts with the same vision in many nations: we recognise, honour and support our local leadership in their pursuit of ethnic equality, justice and racial reconciliation.