At their June 27 meeting the trustees of MJR decided to defer the Zong Project until such times as sufficient funding is found.
The decision was as follows:
- The project to sail the ‘Zong’ replica slave-ship round UK ports would be put on the ‘backburner’, pending such a time as when adequate funding becomes available.
- MJR will continue to pray and take advice as to future timings and activities; and concentrate resources into existing commitments such as the exhibition, research and developing resources.
It is important to emphasise that we still believe in the Zong Project as an idea and concept worth doing to raise the profile of legacy issues. But, with some disappointment, we have had to postpone again, as we cannot as charity trustees legally commit to a project that is not fully funded. The funding that has been raised is being used to create the exhibition that would have toured with the ship, and we intend to take this to the ports (by other means!) to support and encourage the local support that is a vital component of the MJR vision.
We will also now be reflecting on and re-visiting that original vision and other aspects of it that have arguably been sidelined by the effort expended in trying to get the Zong Project to happen. This re-focussing and re-calibrating process will be in a context of prayer and we ask those of you who do to join us in taking this vision back to God for fresh revelation. And to consider other ways in which you could offer input and support.
