The Racial Justice Advisory Group (RJAG) is the advisory body leading on racial justice across the Diocese of Gloucester.
Racial justice is part of our everyday life as Christians and as the Church. It is part of what it means to follow Jesus. It means recognising the dignity and God-given worth of every person, noticing where people experience exclusion or unfairness because of race, and working together to change the attitudes, structures and cultures that allow racism to continue.
RJAG brings together people who are passionate about making racial justice an everyday reality across the Church. The group supports learning, reflection and action, helping churches and communities grow in understanding, share good practice and take practical steps towards greater racial justice.
RJAG also acts as a critical friend to deaneries and parishes, helping communities ask honest questions, listen to different experiences and identify meaningful ways forward.
Our work includes:
- Challenging attitudes, systems and cultures that allow racism to continue
- Helping the diocese develop a clear vision and priorities for racial justice
- Developing a practical plan for putting those priorities into action
- Encouraging learning, reflection and honest conversation
- Supporting the sharing of good practice across our churches and communities
- Celebrating the contribution and experiences of people from different racial and cultural backgrounds
- Working with the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI) and the other six dioceses across the region
Meet the Racial Justice AdvisoryGroup
The group currently includes:
- Sunkanmi Osunsanmi (Co-Chair)
- Ade Osunsanmi -(Co-Chair)
- Kelsey Martyn
- Alexandra Dyer
- Lucy Taylor
- Archdeacon Katrina Scott
- Ann Sargent
- Barrie Voyce
- Tim Hastie-Smith
- Karen Czapiewski
- Florence Nyasamo-Thomas
Racial justice can sometimes feel like a big issue that belongs to someone else – to the diocese, to a particular group of people, or to those who have experienced racism themselves.
But creating a more racially just Church is something we can all contribute to.
It might begin with listening to someone’s experience. It might mean learning more about the experiences of different communities. It could be having a conversation that feels difficult but necessary, challenging an assumption, looking at who is represented in our church’s leadership and decision-making, or making sure that worship and community life reflect and welcome the diversity around us.
There is no single way to get involved. Small changes in our everyday lives and communities can be part of a much bigger change.
What could you do?
Creating a more racially just Church is something we can all contribute to. You don’t need to be an expert to get started. Whether you are part of a worshipping community, a school, a chaplaincy or the wider community, there are many ways to learn, reflect and take action.
Host a racial justice event
Bring people together for a conversation, film, book discussion, guest speaker, exhibition or other event that helps your community learn and reflect.
Make racial justice part of worship
Explore racial justice through preaching, prayers, Bible study, music, stories and the sharing of different cultural traditions.
Start a conversation
Ask your PCC, small group, youth group or congregation: Who isn’t being heard? Who isn’t represented? What could we do differently?
Learn together
Use the resources listed below to explore racial justice, racism, history and lived experience.
Share what you’re doing
If your church or community is already doing something that is helping people learn, connect or take action, we’d love to hear about it and share good practice across the diocese.
Get involved with RJAG
If you have a passion for racial justice, ideas to share, or would like to contribute to this work, please get in touch. Email Katherine Clamp at ku.gro.coidsolg@pmalck.
Take it further
Resources
West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative
Apply for a West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative micro grant of up to £1,500 for projects clearly demonstrating benefits in reducing racism and exclusion. Find out more and apply here →
Throughout the year there are many opportunities to reflect on different areas of racial justice. Download the calendar of key racial awareness events (2026) →
The WMRJI has a Seasons of Justice podcast which explores reflections, insights, reflections, and action towards racial justice. Listen on Spotify →
Sign up to the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative mailing list to find out more about the wider work taking place across the region. Sign up form →
Black History Month racial justice resource pack
The Black History Month website provides a pack of materials for £84.45 with content for schools, workplaces, local authorities, charities, libraries etc. Their 2026 theme is Honouring Our Communities. Visit the Black History Month website →
- October is Black History Month. For 2026, the theme is ‘Dig Deeper. Look Closer. Think Bigger’, encouraging us to listen, learn and reflect more deeply. Find out how to get involved through exploring resources, attending a diocesan event, or hosting your own – Black History Month 2026 →
Liturgy for Racial Justice Sunday (can be used on other days too)
Racial Justice Sunday takes place on the second Sunday of February every year. The Church of England provides liturgy that you can use to support your worship and to commit to end racism and acts of discrimination. If your worshipping community didn’t use the resources this year, you could use the 2026 liturgy during Black History Month or at another time that suits your context. Find and collect and liturgy here →
Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit
The Church of England offers a range of resources, videos, and grants to help churches get involved with racial justice. Find out more →
Working together across the West Midlands
The Diocese of Gloucester is part of the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative, which brings together the six dioceses across the region to work collaboratively for racial justice.
The initiative provides opportunities to learn from one another, share resources and good practice, and work together on the changes needed to make racial justice a lived reality across the Church.
Find out more about the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative →
Keep in touch
Racial justice is a journey we make together. We want this page to be a place where you can find opportunities to learn, discover what is happening across the diocese, and be encouraged by the work already taking place.
Have an idea for a racial justice event? Want to share something your church is doing? Or would you like to find out more about RJAG? Contact Katherine Clamp on ku.gro.coidsolg@pmalck who will pass your email on.
