Page 6 - St Barnabas Parish Homerton Summer Magazine 2020

Racism in Christian organisation where I can
reach outside the walls of the church
Christian and tell people about Jesus.
ministry
I know the Great Commission of
Andrena Palmer shares her exp- Matthew 28 and the authority I have
erience on the Church Army Blog:
from Jesus, but I stil have to consider
I am soon to be Evangelist in Training, where I go, whether I will be made
with Church Army. I am also a black welcome, and whether I can make a
woman. I have been on the receiving difference to the community there as a
end of some ignorant, offensive and black, female evangelist.
downright silly questions and Ephesians 2:15 - 16 : “Ethnic hatred
statements over my lifetime, even has been dissolved by the crucifix-
when working in churches.
ion of his precious body on the
Only 3.9% of the 7,700 stipendiary cross…(He) has made peace be-
clergy in the Church of England are tween us by…forming one new race
from BAME backgrounds of humanity.” These verses are how I
conduct my ministry as a Pioneer
This has represented my experience in Evangelist in Hackney, which has the
churches around the UK where I have
attended and also those who I applied most multicultural demographic of any
place I have worked. It’s also how I
for jobs with. Of course, I may not have
been the ‘right person for the job’ – but hope the church will one day look –
where ethnic hatred no longer exists,
something in me will always wonder and we are united, restored, and rec-
whether my colour (or gender – or onciled to each other through Christ.
both…) is the reason I was not Like every person who was ever born,
successful. And this isn’t just a feeling,
we are ALL created in the image of
and it isn’t just my experience either. God (Genesis 1:27) which is why black
Rejection is subtly done, but it’s done
lives matter. And why my life matters.
and often leaves the candidate with a
negative memory of that experience.
I have learned how to deal with my
It’s unfortunate, but I believe we have fear, stress and mental-health prob-
a fight against institutional racism in
the church, as well as in the police. lems which have been caused - delib-
erately or not - by racism. I have been
really pleased that several non-black
So, what does that mean for me in my people have contacted me to check
ministry as a disciple of Christ, and
more specifically as an evangelist? how I am doing and to pray with me
recently. I hope
When I first found out about Church these comments
Army I was struck with the vision: and messages of
‘…for everyone everywhere to support come
encounter God's love and be with a genuine
empowered to transform their care for long term
communities through faith shared
change and ac-
in words and action’. I’ve found a
tion. (Abridged)