Taking Steps Towards Reparations

O God, may we, the Church, by acknowledging manifold sinfulness in the support of slavery and its associated evils, hereby pledge to adopt a new spirit and application for freedom and respect, leading to redemption and reconciliation, and may we, the Church, henceforth and ever, value and love others as we do ourselves.Here from the closing prayer of the opening litany for the Service of Repentance of the Episcopal Church, we find the formula. First we must acknowledge wrongdoing. Then we must pledge to change our ways. Lastly, we must take actions that lead to redemption and reconciliation.

Today, I attended the Service of Repentance at African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia, PA. Let me start with this: I am a skeptic. One of the things which prevent me from being part of the Western Church is the hypocrisy in its absolute refusal to acknowledge its participation in the sin of slavery. If, we as Christians, are to be reconciled one to another, this denial is the ultimate apostasy, and an affront to the Gospel of Christ.

But, in taking steps towards reparations I must explore possibilities.

So, when I was informed about this "Service of Repentance" I had to see for myself - is it real? And, that remains to be seen. I will say this: I was humbled by the level of self-deprecation in the "Litany of Offense and Apology." With such a profound expression, I couldn't help but wonder if people were really hearing what they were saying.

Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori opened the service with these words:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, we are gathered here to express our most profound regret that the Episcopal Church lent the institution of slavery its support and justification based on scripture, and after slavery was formally abolished, continued for at least a century to support de jure and de facto segregation and discrimination. We gather to repent, to apologize for our complicity in and the injury done by the institution of slavery and its aftermath and to amend our lives, to commit ourselves to opposing the sin of racism in personal and public life, and to create communities of liberation and justice.

To me - this is the basis for why reparations! Again, this is not about money. But, it is about the true Christian work of reconciliation. And, this is the work of the the Church for clearly the Church "lent the institution of slavery its support and justification based on scripture."

So what is the reparative principle? Well for one, it means that the Church now has a duty to work to lend its support and justification based on scripture to ending racism wherever it exists. And, since the Church "continued for at least a century to support...segregation and discrimination," this commitment must not only be confined to "ending racism," but also - and most especially - to combating the disparities caused by the institution of slavery and the legacy of that institution (discrimination), on down to the present day.

In apologizing for her "complicity," the Church cannot simply say: "I'm sorry." As with personal scenarios, an apology proves futile if it is not accompanied by suggestions of what one will do differently in the future. That is taking steps towarsd reparations: having acknowledged wrongdoing, we must work to make things right. It is this "making things right" that helps to both "amend our lives" and "create communities of liberation and justice."

Reparations is absolutely necessary, and is the natural next step. Bishop Jefferts-Schori continued:

Therefore, I invite you to join me in recalling the lamentable events that scar our past and the wounds that continue in the present. Let us seek God's forgiveness that we may be transformed more fully into the Body of Christ witnessing to God's abundant love.

Many folks - especially Whites - on both sides of the color line are afraid to revisit the events of the past. The principle of Sankofa symbolizes one taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge. It is embodied by two different symbols.

I think these symbols are telling. Of course, we look back in order to understand our past and not repeat it. But, we look back in love - and with love, and for love. It is looking back, and taking ownership of what was done that will cause us to be transformed as a people and as a society.

If you are near an Episcopal Church (even if not Episcopalian), I challenge you to approach the Church to see what they have done and are doing in response to Resolution 123A. The question still remains: is it real? Is this going to be more than a perfunctory gesture to superficially absolve the Church in the eyes of men? Or will this be a truly committed effort to attain absolution in the eyes of God?

After speaking with Bishop Schori, I believe it is her intentions to see this be a committed effort. But, only time will tell if other forces will defeat "the best laid plans..." The battle is difficult, for this service was supposed to be held in the spotlight of Washington, D.C. in the National Cathedral. But, objections drove this effort out of the Nation's Capitol to the outskirts of Philly, where it could happen - almost - in secret.

In future pieces, I will further analyze the litany for you - detailing what it means for us as a people. I will also analyze Bishop Schori's sermon, and the striking things she said. As many have said, our hope is that the word "reparations" is no longer seen as a dirty word, but that people would embrace it as a means by which we can all come to be reconciled one to another, by the Grace of God.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Three Steps to Healing: Repentance, REPARATIONS and Reconciliation

In 2006, I spoke of Reparations as an Expression of Christian Love. But, it is also a Christian duty.

Today marked the commencement of the Episcopal Church's two-day Service of Repentance. (See article here.) Despite a mandate for the service to be held in the National Cathedral in DC, the service has been hidden away in a historic Black church in Philadelphia. As Dr. Harold Lewis noted, the legacy of slavery is a National Problem - not a Black problem. To deny it the gravitas of the Cathedral and our Nation's Capitol is not a good start.

When asked why they did not hold the Service of Repentance in the Nation's Capitol, the excuse was that it would be too expensive to use the Cathedral. In other words, it would be too expensive for the Church to use its own facilities?! Honestly, that smells fishy...I think we know the real reason for avoiding Washington, D.C.

Nevertheless, there is great work being done in certain pockets of the Episcopal Communion. For instance, the Diocese of Mississippi has formed a Committee on Racial Reconciliation that is recording Church History in the State as it relates to the institution of slavery. There is the Diocese of North Carolina that has conducted its own "Truth and Reconciliation Commission." And, there is the Diocese of Maryland with the Commission on Reparations for Slavery - yes, in Maryland.

As I think on what's been said, I begin to understand the way to relate the importance of this theme. There were churches that profited from slavery...churches that owned slaves. There were priests and bishops that owned slaves.

In the Episcopal Church's General Convention Resolution 123A we read:

Resolved, That we express our most profound regret that (a) The Episcopal Church lent the institution of slavery its support and justification based on Scripture, and (b) after slavery was formally abolished, The Episcopal Church continued for at least a century to support de jure and de facto segregation and discrimination...

So, the Episcopal Church has at least acknowledged that it was complicit in the sin of slavery. They have further acknowledged that, that sin has had (and does have) a profound effect upon our society.

This conference took place after the Race and Reconciliation in America Conference that was hosted by former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen and his wife - actress and playwright - Janet Langhart Cohen. At that conference, it was made clear that "reparations will bring about racial reconciliation." And at this conference, we see the crucial role that repentance plays in all of this.

One White person responded that the discussion was depressing, to which Dr. Lewis said: "the truth sometimes is." A later commentator - also White - reminded us that "gold is refined by fire," and that we must embrace the pain in order to reap the reward.

Reparations is the work of everyone - and it is legitimate (and much needed) work. Reparations should not be a dirty word. It should be a humbling word that helps us to own are faults so that we might truly repent and ultimately reconcile.

So, don't be afraid - Come and Get Your Reparations!