The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, 1807
25 March 2007 marks the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. This provides an opportunity for churches and communities to remember, reflect upon, and ask the right questions about slavery and its legacy.
As difficult as the corporate and public memory of slavery is, we need to learn lessons for today, for ‘slavery’ is still with us. Millions of people are caught up in human trafficking. They are bought and sold, used in bonded labour and exploited as sex slaves.
Evangelicals played a significant role in the abolition of the slave trade, as well as in the abolition of slavery itself. Because of their religious beliefs and values they were leading philanthropists, contributing significantly to welfare provision and social reform in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We want to encourage churches and Christian leaders to use the bicentenary to reflect upon many of the key events and personalities that finally contributed to ending both the transatlantic slave trade and slavery itself. Let’s not forget the struggles of brave men, women, and the masses of ordinary people who fought against this brutal and immoral trade.
We also encourage churches to use the bicentenary to remember the rich tradition of evangelical social action. It is a timely reminder of the need for Christians to actively “promote justice and compassion for the poor, vulnerable and oppressed”, as advocated in the Alliance’s recent Faith & Nation report.
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