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Figure 1: Commission Retreat participants, June 8, 2024: Dr. J. Pruszinski, W. Coleman, Cn. B. Bach, Rev. S. Sutton, Rev. P. Shoaf-Kozak, Cn. A. Buchanan, Rev. Cn. C. Sang, Rev. B. Rauen Sciaino, J. Gloster, Bishop S. French, J. Rodriguez (photo). |
The Reparations Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, co-chaired by Canon Annette Buchanan and Canon Barbie Okamoto Bach, is actively making the case for reparations in the Garden State.
In March the Commission organized its second Stations of Reparations, a Lenten service of repentance, which was hosted by St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Asbury Park on Saturday March 16, 2024. Modelled on the traditional Stations of the Cross, the service focused on the Post-Civil War history of systemic racism in the diocese. The first Stations service, held in 2023, was the inspiration for the recent Province II collaborative service of repentance for slavery in which the Diocese of New Jersey was a participant. The March St. Augustine’s service featured testimony from members of Monmouth County Episcopal churches including Charles Hughes of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Red Bank, Rev. Chase Danford of Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, and Linda Shomo of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, as well as testimony about the general history of racism in the diocese based on Commission research. The service was well attended, with dozens of churches from the diocese represented among the participants. The Commission is planning additional future services in other parts of the diocese.
In March the Commission organized its second Stations of Reparations, a Lenten service of repentance, which was hosted by St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Asbury Park on Saturday March 16, 2024. Modelled on the traditional Stations of the Cross, the service focused on the Post-Civil War history of systemic racism in the diocese. The first Stations service, held in 2023, was the inspiration for the recent Province II collaborative service of repentance for slavery in which the Diocese of New Jersey was a participant. The March St. Augustine’s service featured testimony from members of Monmouth County Episcopal churches including Charles Hughes of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Red Bank, Rev. Chase Danford of Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, and Linda Shomo of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, as well as testimony about the general history of racism in the diocese based on Commission research. The service was well attended, with dozens of churches from the diocese represented among the participants. The Commission is planning additional future services in other parts of the diocese.
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Figure 2: Stations of Reparations Service, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, NJ, March 16, 2024 (Photo by Jolyon Pruszinski). |
On April 25, 2024, the Commission organized an educational reparations webinar, sixth in the "Journey Toward Reparations" series, subtitled “New Jersey's Opportunity to Learn from New York & California.” Guest speakers included New York State Senator James Sanders, Jr., the Reverend Charles Boyer of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton, and the Reverend Dr. Darrell Armstrong of Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton. The panel was moderated by the Reverend Charles Wynder, Jr., Dean of the Chapel at St. Paul’s School, Concord, NH. Co-sponsored by New Jersey Faith Allies for Reparations, a coalition of thirty-four faith and social justice organizations with the single goal of convincing legislators to pass bills A602/S3164 to establish a state task force to study the case for reparative justice for the lasting harms of slavery, the webinar provided an excellent chance to hear from those who have been on the front lines of advocacy for reparations in state settings.
Commission historian, Jolyon Pruszinski, Ph.D., preached at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Ewing, New Jersey for their April 28 Anti-Racism event sponsored by the St. Luke’s Black Lives Matter committee. He and co-convener Cn. Barbie Bach presented after the service to a packed room on the historic connection between Episcopalians/Anglicans in New Jersey and slavery and racism, as well as ongoing effects in the Church, and the role of reparations in repairing, restoring, and making amends for the historic wrongs of slavery and racism.
May 23rd saw organization of the New Jersey Faith Allies Lobby Day at the State House in Trenton. Reparations Commission members are critical leaders in this movement and the Lobby day included direct engagement with over 20 individual legislators. Lobby day was followed quickly by a Rally Day on June 6th in front of the State House Annex. Participants urged New Jersey legislators to take action on the aforementioned task-force bills. Co-sponsors of the Rally Day included the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ), the People's Organization for Progress, Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) of New Jersey, and the Montclair Branch of the NAACP.
The Commission retreat on June 8th saw Commission members connecting with and learning from Alexizendria “Zena” Link of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, who has been intimately involved in the creation and organization of the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice (https://episcopalcoalition.org). This new non-profit entity, set up by the Episcopal Church's 80th General Convention as a voluntary association “dedicated to the work of becoming the Beloved Community,” will serve as a hub for “facilitating… supporting, and networking efforts of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals for racial justice and equity.”[1] A Reparations Commission exhibit booth at the General Convention in June will highlight diocesan racial justice efforts and provide an opportunity to network with other diocese pursuing racial justice while we await full operationalization of the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice.
Commission activities in research, education, and organizing are ongoing. These include efforts to uncover and share the history of congregations in the diocese, preservation of the oral histories of African American lay and clergy people, and solicitation of the needs of historically Black congregations in the diocese in support of near-future resource commitments for reparations. This summer be on the lookout for forthcoming information regarding an in-state pilgrimage connecting various historical sites with the Episcopal Church’s history of slavery and racism. The Commission would also be happy to visit your church to present, preach, or support your racism research and reparative initiatives. Please contact Canon Annette Buchanan (email), Canon Barbie O. Bach (email), or Dr. Jolyon Pruszinski (email) to make arrangements.
Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski, Ph.D.
Reparations Commission Research Historian
Commission activities in research, education, and organizing are ongoing. These include efforts to uncover and share the history of congregations in the diocese, preservation of the oral histories of African American lay and clergy people, and solicitation of the needs of historically Black congregations in the diocese in support of near-future resource commitments for reparations. This summer be on the lookout for forthcoming information regarding an in-state pilgrimage connecting various historical sites with the Episcopal Church’s history of slavery and racism. The Commission would also be happy to visit your church to present, preach, or support your racism research and reparative initiatives. Please contact Canon Annette Buchanan (email), Canon Barbie O. Bach (email), or Dr. Jolyon Pruszinski (email) to make arrangements.
Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski, Ph.D.
Reparations Commission Research Historian
Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
