By Larry Clark, Junior Warden, St. Philip’s Episcopal, Richmond
I am honored to be a member of the Truth and Reparations Task Force (TRTF), established at the 2021 Diocese Convention by adoption of Resolution R-10a, that was proposed by the Good Trouble Group of which I was a member. The major work of TRTF is to identify and propose means by which repair may begin for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) within the Diocese of Virginia.
As an African American and a recent Episcopal convert (in 2017), I was overjoyed when Resolution R10A was voted on and approved by the Convention delegates. Witnessing the passing of the resolution said to me that our Diocese is deeply committed to truth telling of the Church’s involvement in the slave trade and committed to bringing justice and reconciliation to all who are still impacted by the legacy of slavery.
Currently, the TRTF is making good progress toward fulfilling the commitment to establish an endowment of $10 million and use the proceeds of the endowment for reparations which will directly benefit BIPOC communities harmed by past unjust actions by the Diocese.
A further example of our Diocese’s commitment to Racial Justice is the work of the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing (MRJH), of which I am also a member. The mission of MRJH is to engage the members of the diocese in programs to dismantle racism and white supremacy through education and advocacy.
The Ministry is providing the “I Will, With God’s Help” workshop across the diocese. The workshop is a resource for congregations to identify and acknowledge truths about racial biases and white supremacy that exists in our society today.
As a further testament to our Diocese’s commitment to racial justice, I am proud to be a co-chair of “Walking with the Enslaved (WwtE), A Pilgrimage Toward Truth, Reconciliation, and Hope” which is a joint program established by Richmond’s St. Paul’s and St. Philip’s churches.
WwtE is a Spirit-led pilgrimage through nine historical sites, moving chronologically through Richmond’s history of slavery and resistance. At each site, scripture, prayer, silence, song, and stories of the enslaved, free people and enslavers invite pilgrims to begin the work of truth telling, proclamation, formation, and repair.
All the above works reflect the four pillars of the Episcopal Church’s “Becoming a Beloved Community” which are embraced by the Diocese of Virginia:
- Truth-telling – Telling the Truth about Our Churches and Slavery
- Proclamation – Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community
- Formation – Practicing Jesus’ Way of Healing Love
- Justice – Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions