This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
On the heels of the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd's death, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has called for a reevaluation of the Church of England's traditional portrayal of Jesus as a white man.
Speaking to the BBC Today Programme, Welby acknowledged that the way the western church represents Jesus needs to be 'thought about again' and 're-imagined' in light of the recent protests.
Welby noted that Jesus is portrayed differently in various countries around the world, with many churches depicting him as black, Chinese, or Middle Eastern, which he believes is the most accurate representation.
He emphasized that these representations are not who they worship but rather serve as a reminder of the universality of God who became fully human.
Welby also announced that statues in Canterbury Cathedral with links to the UK's imperialist history and slave trade will be put under review, with the question of whether they should remain in place to be carefully considered.
