Matthew 25:40
May/June 2005
Reparations Convocation: “it affects us all”
BY DONNA LAMB
Using the theme “Information, Education, Awareness, Advocacy – Action,” on April 23 the Episcopal Diocese of New York held a convocation at Intercession, Manhattan, to consider the subject of reparations to descendants of slavery.
The convocation took place within the context of the Eucharist. It opened with the Liturgy of the Word: Bishop Mark Sisk presiding and assisted by the Rev. Fred Williams Jr., vicar of Intercession, and Bishop Catherine S. Roskam.
Br. Reginald Martin Crenshaw, OHC, chair of the Diocesan Task Force on Reparations, welcomed the participants and explained how this initiative began at the Diocesan Convention of 2003. The task force was created to study reparations and to provide opportunities for the larger diocesan community to participate in discussions to help shape the proposal regarding reparations that will be presented at the diocesan convention in November 2005.
Donna Lamb, communications director for Caucasians United for Reparations and Emancipation, gave an address in which she clarified what reparations is – repairing the damage – and what it isn’t – taking money away from individual whites and handing it over to individual blacks. The main thrust of the black-led reparations movement, she said, is not toward individuals receiving reparations, but finding ways in which their community as a whole, especially those who need it most, can benefit. Reparations would include the highest quality education at all levels, intensive job training and grants that promote economic empowerment, improvement in housing and infrastructure, and state of the art physical and mental health care facilities in black communities.
Following Lamb’s address, convocation participants split into breakout groups in which they discussed one of the Biblical passages provided for study, along with historical information about the diocese’s connection to slavery. As representatives from each group reported back to the entire body, it was clear that each had experienced lively and productive discussions across racial lines as they considered how the church is called to move the issue of reparations forward.
Bishop Sisk spoke of the “dreadful legacy” of slavery, saying, “We need to do what we can to come to grips with this wound in our nation’s identity…. It is not a black issue, nor is it a white issue. It affects all of us.”
He spoke of his hopes for the diocese and for the convocation, which included working to develop a deeper awareness of the impact of slavery both historically and currently, as well as not flinching from the reality that raw economics played in furthering the institution – and drawing from that the obvious implications for those who are being economically exploited in our own time. He also expressed the hope that the grounds for a resolution to the Diocesan Convention would emerge from the convocation and that that resolution would, in turn, lead to a General Convention resolution in 2006.
Following the Bishop’s charge, participants returned to their groups to formulate proposals as to how the diocese should proceed. They were asked to write their suggestions on index cards, which were presented along with the bread and wine as the gifts for the celebration of the Eucharist.
A breakout group led by Emily Frye (left) included Attorney Roger Wareham
of Millions for Reparations.