Avoid language that ‘dehumanises’ Russians, says Church of England

During a time of escalating tensions between Russia and the West, church officials have warned Christians to be mindful that “everyone is human, and that even in times of war, we must remember their humanity”.

In a written submission in papers to the General Synod, the Church of England’s legislative body, which will convene later this month, Mark Sheard, chair of the Mission and Public Affairs Council, warned against “jingoism and exhilaration” when referring to the war in Ukraine and for Christians to refrain from allowing religious fervour to “fan the flames of war”.

He said that Christians should “avoid actions or words that dehumanise Russia or Russians and dehumanising caricatures”, adding: “Whilst relationships at the highest level between the Church of England and the Russian Orthodox Church are inevitably difficult, there are many friendships with Russian Christians both in Russia and in the Russian diaspora, not least in the UK that are to be treasured, especially with a view to rebuilding relationships after the war.”

His comments come as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, is currently in Ukraine where he has been meeting churches, politicians, charities and citizens.

Tucker Carlson, former Fox News presenter and conservative US media personality, published his highly anticipated interview with Vladimir Putin, Russian president, online on Thursday night.

It was the first time the Russian leader had agreed to an interview with a Western media outlet since he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago and comes as fighting in the country has reached a stalemate.

During the interview, Putin threatened a third world war if the US deployed troops to Ukraine, insisted he was fulfilling his mission to “de-Nazify” Ukraine and repeated his argument that Ukraine was not a real country and that it was shaped by the “will” of Joseph Stalin, the former leader of the Soviet Union.

Asked how the Church of England could encourage Christians not to dehumanise Russians, William Nye, secretary general of the Archbishops’ Council and secretary general of the General Synod of the Church of England, said that it was up to leaders to lead by example.

He said: “We clearly enforce it, I’m not sure the ecclesiastical courts have that ability. What we can do is encourage it… by the way in which bishops and others speak into public affairs, by the way in which we can remember that everyone is human, is made in the image of Christ, and that even in times of war, we must remember their humanity, the way in which we can show that we while support Ukrainian refugees, we also need to recognise that all people on all sides of conflicts are our brothers and sisters.”

On Thursday night, the Archbishop of Canterbury released a statement while travelling in Ukraine, drawing from the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill in the Second World War, warning of the risks for wider security if Ukraine does not succeed.

He said that Ukraine is fighting for the “survival of a people”, like Britain in the Second World War, as he called for renewed support from people in Western countries.

The Archbishop of Canterbury added: “True victory must include a secure, just and lasting peace, freely agreed by Ukraine and Russia. The long-term vision must be for stability and security, justice, healing, and reconciliation.

“That also was Churchill’s vision after the Second World War. It is in that sense of winning the peace that we say the first step must be to win the war.”