Anglican bishops' statement on racism

On June 8, 2020, bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), including Archbishop Linda Nicholls, ACC primate and Archbishop Mark MacDonald, national Anglican Indigenous archbishop issued a statement on racism in light of recent events in the US and here in Canada. The following is an excerpt from that statement:

"We repent of our complicity in the continuing structures of racism and oppression in our church and in our culture, for racism is not of Christ. It is sin.

Every human being reflects the dignity of the very image of God. At baptism we commit to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being”. It is the centre of the ministry and message of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Marks of Mission, to which we are committed as a Communion, remind us that we are called to “seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation."

The Anglican Church of Canada has been wrestling with racism and our complicity in systems of injustice for decades. It is a matter of public record that The Anglican Church of Canada has been committed to and learning about a new path to reconciliation with Indigenous Anglicans. We recommit ourselves today to that path."

Download the full statement below.