Liturgies from below: praying with people at the end of the world (also published as From the ends of the world: prayers in defiance of empire)

doubt that this will be an effective strategy for change. It is possible that powerful groups within the church will become even more entrenched in their failure to appoint UKME/ GMH people. When this report tells us that Black Church members, despite being highly qualified and experienced, are continually passed over by the overwhelmingly White church systems nothing new is being added to our knowledge base. Black people know this even if White Church people do not want to acknowledge it and must be reminded time and time again. But to whom is this report addressed? Presumably, those who have the power to change things. Who can tell in the strange world and culture of the Church of England? So, do we really need yet another report that draws the conclusion that a great resource for the Church is being underused and marginalized? Yes, we know this. This is the lived experience of Black Christians, particularly their clergy who seek to represent Christ to the world. It is not unlike saying that slum environments prevent academic learning. I understand the contributors of this report would be keen to commission new research to make some sense of the Church of England’s theological foundations of prejudice and discrimination. In this context, I hope they will welcome this review as an initial and meaningful contribution to that process. I do not doubt the sincerity of the writers, but will the Church of England deliver on the recommendations that would seriously change its life and culture as an institutionally racist institution? Some of the recommendations are crucial, others are not so important, so it would not be difficult for readers to predict which ones are likely to succeed. So, will anything change? From Lament to Action runs the tightrope between the optimistic and the naive. This is something readers will have to decide for themselves. Clearly time will tell, so watch this space, but as I said previously, do not hold your breath.