"We believe that this is a moment where we are invited by God to commit ourselves to be instruments of change in the church and the wider society," participants in an international conference on "Churches against Racism" have said

A conference seeking to consolidate the legacy of the World Council of Churches' historic anti-racism efforts will take place from 14-17 June in Doorn near Utrecht in the Netherlands. The task is still a vital one.

Dismay and concern have been expressed by church leaders following election gains by British National Party - with the churches being challenged to combat the narrow nationalist and "Christian nation" rhetoric the far-right is using.

The Church of England has for too long been slow to take its own ethnic diversity to its heart, says Vasantha Gnanadoss. If it now also claims that Christianity is superior to others it could be unwittingly supporting white nationalism and undermining action against the BNP and others.