This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the speech, in which Luther King, a Baptist minister, called for an end to racism in the United States. This anniversary is an opportunity to explore if things have changed, explained the Revd Wale Hudson Roberts, the racial justice networker for the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB).

‘The speech was basically about integration,’ he said, ‘and we are asking the question: have things changed? If so, by how much? Or haven’t they changed? ‘Looking at the Trayvon Martin case, you could say lots of things may have changed, but racism is still prevalent in society.

‘Similarly in the UK, with the recent Home Office vans targeting illegal immigrants: we have made some progress, but how much? The hope is that the lectures will explore the speech and the legacy.’

I Have a Dream: The Unfinished Business? events are taking place in the East Midlands (EMBA), Southern Counties (SCBA) and West of England Baptist Associations (WEBA). The WEBA event is a partnership between Bristol Baptist College and the Church of God of Prophecy. Speakers include the Revd Joel Edwards (WEBA), Dr Anthony Reddie (SCA), and the Revd Dave Ellis (EMBA).

Mr Hudson Roberts said the lectures will inform the Racial Justice Group and link to The Journey, the ongoing programme of work that has the aim of ensuring that BUGB develops into a fully multicultural Union.