In 2019, Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) became the first Episcopal entity to make financial reparations for slavery, pledging $1.7 million to fund “activities and programs that promote justice and inclusion.”
Several dioceses subsequently established their own reparations funds. When General Convention of the Episcopal Church (TEC) convenes in Louisville, Kentucky, in late June, it will be asked to consider making reparations a churchwide initiative.
“A more committed and coordinated approach from the Episcopal Church can and should occur by having the establishment of an independent reparations fund commission,” said Penny Grinage, a lay deputy from the Diocese of Long Island. She testified May 23 at a hearing of the Racial Truth-Telling, Reckoning, & Healing committee in support of Resolution A015, “Owning a Commitment to Reparations.”
Rather than specify the size of a proposed reparations fund, the resolution calls for establishment of a commission, “with its convener and at least 60% of its membership being persons of color.” The commission would be tasked with creating “a substantial fund from TEC assets, the purpose of which is a sustained, meaningful, tangible response to the historic and ongoing legacy of slavery and displacement of Indigenous peoples of what is now the United States.”
“The Episcopal Church has profited immensely and built assets from engaging in the past practice of enslavement of African people, along with participating in a thriving slave economy,” Grinage said. “Reparations is an act of penance needed in the reconciliation of the Christian community.”
Grinage’s own diocese is among those that have taken action already. “In 2021, the Diocese of Long Island established a reparations program where funds have been set aside to provide college scholarships and … [trade] school fees to the descendants of enslaved African people in the diocese.” She said funds also have been established in the dioceses of Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Virginia, along with VTS and Memorial Episcopal Church in Baltimore.
Committee members at the hearing generally seemed supportive of the proposal, although one possible sticking point is the proposal to have the reparations fund be overseen by the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice. A liaison from the resolution review questioned whether that was appropriate, “because the coalition actually exists outside of the structures of the Episcopal Church,” rather than as an entity of General Convention.
However, the coalition website seems to contradict this, noting that it was created and funded by General Convention in 2022. The issue was not resolved, and the committee took no action on the resolution because of the lack of a quorum among bishops.
Most legislative committees actually consist of separate committees for the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. The two committees generally meet together, but must vote separately. The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, Bishop of Atlanta and the only bishop present, said he would email his fellow bishops on the committee and urge them to attend committee meetings set for May 29 and 30.
This illustrates the tradeoffs inherent in holding committee hearings in advance of General Convention. Before the pandemic, all such hearings were held in person at General Convention, where all the voting bishops and deputies are present. Online hearings make it possible for people to testify who are not able to attend General Convention itself, but it can be a challenge for busy committee members to attend multiple online hearings in advance.
