Ben Lindsay offers a comprehensive analysis of race relations in the UK Church and shows us how, and why, we can work together to create a truly inclusive church community.
Ben Lindsay is a pastor at Emmanuel Church London. He is passionate about inclusion and wants to see a racially diverse church that better serves and represents the local context. Ben is CEO and founder of Power The Fight, a charity empowering communities to end youth violence. He has a background working in local government and the charity sector.
Ben Lindsay’s book is a must-read for the UK church. He is lucid,
punchy and deeply honest about the issue of racism in the UK today,
and in the UK church. It is my prayer that we heed this call and
respond together to the mandate to challenge discrimination in all
its forms.
*Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury*
This is one of the most important books to be written in recent
years and is essential reading for every Christian and especially
every church leader in the UK. Ben puts on speakerphone the voices
of people of colour which are often whispered or silent and invites
us to listen.
*Selina Stone, Lecturer in Political Theology, St Mellitus
College*
Thoughtful and well considered, Ben Lindsay tackles the space where
race, religion, and culture intersect, in a book that is both
insightful and relatable at once.
*Chimene Suleyman, The Good Immigrant USA co-editor, The Good
Immigrant contributor*
Too often Christians have assumed that being colour blind is the
best way to approach race and ethnicity in the church. Ben
Lindsay’s compelling book opens our eyes to this naivety and
challenges us to be willing to have a more serious conversation. At
this critical moment in our national life where race, immigration
and the UK’s relationship with the world is being negotiated, this
important and timely book needs to be read, discussed and acted
upon.
*Dr Krish Kandiah: Founding Director: Home for Good, author of God
is Stranger*
Ben Lindsay's book is a fascinating eye-opener around history and
representation in the church. Ben shines a light on the struggle
with being a black Christian and being black in a majority white
church with sensitivity, fact and practical strategies to bring
churches into the modern day conversation. A must read.
*Jasmine Dotiwala, Head of Youth Engagement, Media Trust*
Ben Lindsay challenges Christians racialised as white to consider
the legacies of white privilege in the contemporary church. Serious
engagement with the contents of the book demand radical action in
the composition of leadership, persistent Christian anti-racist
practice, and exorcism from the demon of 'colour blindness.’
*Robert Beckford, Professor of Theology, Canterbury Christ Church
University.*
I am a black British born man and not only does Ben articulate the
subject which is so personal to me, he is also fearless and faces
it head on in this book by stating the obvious issues around race,
colour and matters that are big in the wider church.
*Noel Robinson, Musician and Worship Leader*
This book should be read by all in senior leadership and those
involved in theological education. Until this issue is addressed
head on in the church and young black people are able to see
visible images of themselves in senior leadership within the
church, then the church’s mission will be seriously damaged and
impeded. I will be telling lots of people about this book as it is
more than an excellent read – it is geared for action.
*The Revd Prebendary Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of
the House of Commons*
Delivered with a perfect balance of truth and grace, this book will
open the eyes of many. As a young black man navigating in a
predominantly white world, this book is a timely weapon of wisdom
and a game-changer.
*Guvna B, rap artist and author of Unpopular Culture*
Ben Lindsay says we need to talk about race, and he's right.
Through an impressive synthesis of Scripture, history, literature,
pop culture, sociology and personal narrative, Ben invites us to
have a much-needed conversation, and gives us a host of resources
to help us. Provocative, frank and often challenging, this is also
a pastoral and very human book, with insights to consider on
virtually every page.
*Andrew Wilson, Teaching Pastor, King's Church London*
Ben is a rarity. In his book he tackles some of the difficult
issues that relate to race, such as white privilege and colour
blindness. Through the careful use of life stories Ben highlights
the perennial challenges faced by people of colour in predominately
white churches and suggests possible ways in which such ongoing
negative experiences can be addressed by the church.
This is an excellent book. If churches can read this book with the
openness it calls for, it can, over time, become a game changer for
so many churches engaged in the complex world of building a ‘church
for all nations.’
*Wale Hudson Roberts, Baptist Union of Great Britain's first Racial
Justice Co-ordinator*
This book reminds us and also challenges us to keep the
conversation open about individual experiences, fears and deep
concerns regarding race. I believe the church has come a long way
but it has much further to go. This book will help in that
process.
*Les Isaac, Co-founder of Street Pastors*
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