Remembering Rev Dr Joel Edwards CBE

Keith Magee Bryan Bonaparte

The next step is healing. We can’t reach it through anger and hurt; righteous indignation alone will get us nowhere. Instead, each of us needs to connect with others – those who look like us and those who don’t. Those who pray like us and those who don’t. Those who vote like us and those who don’t. We can learn much from other minorities with experience of trauma and marginalisation – sadly, there are many such groups. But, while we should denounce attempts at whitewashing, we must resist apportioning blame. This is about positive allyship and moving forward.

Our elected leaders have a crucial role to play. Both our governments must now engage their populations in a serious, transparent conversation about race. They should each begin by convening a Citizens’ Assembly, made up of randomly selected participants who reflect their nation’s diversity, and who can come together to seek common ground. This will allow robust, informed, public input to help design policies that – if implemented – might actually succeed in overcoming racial trauma and disparities.

As well as educating their students about racial trauma, teachers can ensure that every child’s humanity is valued. If they are positive about diversity, actively highlighting its benefits, and encourage children to appreciate each other’s ethnicity and cultural heritage, teachers can help to liberate our young people from damaging myths about race.

Four hundred years is long enough to carry a burden based on hate. Change is in the air - both in America and in Britain. Together, let’s seize this moment and break the cycle of racial trauma. Like so many others, we both bear its scars, and we sincerely hope that future generations will not.

Keith Magee is Professor of Social Justice at Newcastle University. He is also Senior Fellow in Culture and Justice at UCL, where he is co-chair of Black Britain and Beyond. He is the author of Prophetic Justice: Essays and Reflections on Race, Religion, and Politics, published in January 2021.

Bryan Bonaparte is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Westminster and co-chair of Black Britain and Beyond, a social platform which brings together Black Britons and allies to explore and engage in the significance of Black Britishness.

Britain’s Christian community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest leaders, Rev Joel Edwards, following his battle with cancer. He was, without doubt, one of the most influential leaders to come from Britain’s Black Pentecostal church.

The Jamaican-born minister, who migrated to Britain as a young boy, and who spent his formative years as a Christian, serving in the New Testament Church of God (NTCG), made history in 1997 when he became the first Black man to be appointed leader of the Evangelical Alliance(EA), the representative body for evangelical Christians.

Such was the significance of his role, that in 2003 Joel was awarded a medal of appreciation for services to Jamaica and, in 2007, he was given an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews. During Rev Edward’s illustrious ministry, he was appointed honorary canon at St Paul’s Cathedral, and was appointed a commissioner for the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

Prior to taking up a full-time role at the EA, Joel had been a member of groundbreaking gospel band, Kainos; was a respected youth leader; worked as a probation officer, and served as senior pastor of a cutting-edge NTCG congregation in Mile End.

At the time of writing, 1.2k people had ‘liked’ and 789 people had commented on the post that announced Joel’s passing. It had been penned by Joel, and in a touching message, he thanked everyone for their prayers; told us that he was ‘gone’, and commended his family to the Christian community, before ending with the words, ‘I wait to welcome you.’

Tributes have poured in for Joel from across the denominational spectrum. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrall (respectively) put out a tribute on social media, writing they were ‘saddened by his death’ and commended his advisory role on the CoE’s Racial Justice Commission.

Bishop Donald Bolt, leader of the New Testament Church of God, described Joel as “a true believer, a mature disciple, a focused pilgrim, a highly respected minister and a leader with integrity.”

Gavin Calver, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, praised Joel’s contribution to the evangelical community, writing: “Under his leadership he deepened the diversity of the EA, while bringing credibility and attention to evangelicals in the ecumenical and secular spheres.”

In his final years, Joel attended Emmanuel Christian Centre in Walthamstow. Doug Williams was his pastor. He said: “Joel was a man people could trust; a teacher they could understand; a leader they were willing to follow; a preacher who always applied his message to his own life first; a husband and father that valued family; a mentor who inspired hope; a brother every sibling could be proud of... and a friend I will never forget!”

Joel is survived by his wife Carol, children Davina and Joel Jnr, and grandchildren. Marcia Dixon