The inaugural affiliate session of the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church (HSEC) at the Annual Meeting of the American Historical Association (AHA) will be held this coming Saturday, January 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois (10:30am-12pm, Wilson Room, Palmer House Hilton, Third Floor), and it will feature research from the Diocese of New Jersey Racial Justice Review. The presentation session is entitled “Anglican Slavery in New Jersey: Reparations Work in the Diocese of New Jersey and the Episcopal Church,” and the primary presenter will be Dr. Jolyon Pruszinski, the Reparations Commission Research Historian for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey (and Lecturer in the History Department at Princeton University). Other presenters from the HSEC will include Rev. Dr. Valerie Bailey (Williams College), Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook (TEC Historiographer, Claremont School of Theology), and Matthew Payne (HSEC Director of Operations).
Session Abstract: Episcopal parishes, dioceses, institutions, organizations, and seminaries across the country are actively leading reparations initiatives, turning reflection into meaningful action. The Reparations Commission of the Diocese of New Jersey has focused early efforts on research and education including through the Diocese of New Jersey Racial Justice Review (an ongoing self-study), the new book Anglican Slavery in New Jersey: An Initial Accounting, history-based services of repentance, local educational pilgrimages to historical sites of church-sanctioned slavery, and through enabling grassroots congregational research into slavery and racism at active parishes. These educational efforts support formal reparative policy recommendations being advanced by the Commission.
It is not too late to register for the AHA meeting.
https://aha.confex.com/aha/2026/webprogram/Session27568.html
The HSEC will be holding an additional seminar later that day (2:30-5pm) at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Chicago (3801 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL) featuring the Rev. Dr. Bailey presenting on the “African American History Timeline in the Episcopal Church,” and a briefer presentation by Dr. Pruszinski.
We hope to see you there!
Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski, Ph.D.
Reparations Commission Research Historian
Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
