Churches and Partners Unite Against Modern Slavery
The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Clewer Initiative (TCI) of the Church of England have officially launched a new Lenten resource aimed at combating modern slavery globally. This innovative resource is a concrete step in supporting WCC churches' commitment to children and empowering churches and their partners to engage in safeguards against exploitation. In response to modern slavery, which affects about 50 million people worldwide, this Lenten resource becomes a critical step in the fight against exploitation. Data from Anti-Slavery International shows that the number of children trapped in modern slavery has reached more than 12 million, increasing by 2 million by 2022. Climate changes such as floods and droughts also increase the vulnerability of children to human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. Reverend Dr. Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia, stated, "This resource is an important contribution from the WCC in partnership with The Clewer Initiative in addressing the challenges of modern slavery." Dr. Mtata is also involved in the conceptualization of this resource. This Lenten resource, structured around Galatians, offers weekly explorations with Biblical reflections, discussion questions, modern slavery facts, global case studies, and follow-up points that can be adapted to national and regional contexts around the world. Bishop Alastair Redfern, chairman of The Clewer Initiative, stated, "Modern slavery is an example of a crime that requires a unified but also contextual response. The church has a great opportunity and responsibility to be at the forefront, identifying and protecting vulnerable people at risk of exploitation and caring for victims." The idea for this project arose in January 2023 during a conversation between WCC Secretary General Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay and Bishop Alastair Redfern. The project extends the partnership between the WCC and the TCI, which began in 2020 as part of the church's commitment to children. This resource was inspired by successful trials in Ghana, Tanzania, and Italy in collaboration with the National Council of Churches. Frederique Seidel, executive of the WCC programme for the rights of the child, stated, "The resource deepens awareness of the responsibility of Christians to address the root causes of injustice and vulnerability that drive people into modern slavery." A webinar is planned for January 2023 to support the deployment of these resources by churches to their congregations and partners. The move demonstrates the serious commitment of churches and their partners to fighting modern slavery and creating a more just and compassionate world.
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