New Orleans Churches and Reparations: Lessons from an Episcopal Summit

The Hidden Stories of Oppression

The Rev. Lindsey Ardrey grew up surrounded by storytellers. However, there were some stories of harm and racial oppression that remained hidden. Elders whispered about systems of oppression, carefully keeping these stories away from children. Nevertheless, Lindsey, being a curious and quiet listener, picked up on these hushed conversations.

A Gathering for Truth-telling and Reparations

Recently, Lindsey shared her childhood memories at the September 19-21 Episcopal Summit on Truth-telling and Reparations in Arlington, Virginia. Nearly 100 people from 34 dioceses attended the event at Virginia Theological Seminary. This summit provided a platform for national church leaders to share strategies, best practices, and resources for reparations. Additionally, the attendees came together to pray and encourage one another in their work.

A New Face of Episcopal Leadership in Reparations

I first met Lindsey when she was a parishioner at St. George’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Together, we attended Justice and Beyond meetings, along with Undoing Racism workshops. At the time, Lindsey was preparing to enter seminary, and she has now become the Canon Missioner for Diocesan Reparations in North Carolina. Up until this point, I hadn’t known that reparations existed in any Episcopal job title.

Unexpected Enthusiasm for Reparations

Moreover, the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, canon for Evangelism and Reconciliation, expressed her amazement at the summit’s enthusiastic turnout. Five years ago, she avoided the term “reparation” because it often silenced conversations. However, today, she said, “Now, we’re hosting a summit on reparations and had to turn people away.” Initially, they planned for 50 participants but ended up with 106 registrations and more than 20 people on the waiting list.

Repair the Breach NOLA: Learning from Experience

In fact, I attended the summit to gain wisdom and insight for our group, Repair the Breach NOLA. Our goal is to help mosques, synagogues, and churches examine their histories of racism and systemic oppression. Eventually, we will establish a reparations fund to benefit local Black scholars, pastors, and cultural leaders.

The Theological Foundation of Reparations

One important panel at the summit addressed the theological foundation of reparations. The presenters emphasized that racial repair work is not only lifelong but also deeply uncomfortable. This discomfort, they noted, comes from recalling trauma and challenging personal identities. Summit attendees, both Black and white, were reminded of this repeatedly.

Creating Safe Spaces for Truth-telling

Furthermore, a speaker highlighted the difference between comfort and safety. Safe spaces, they argued, allow us to sit with our discomfort, working through it with honesty and support. As Jesus teaches, the truth sets us free. Nevertheless, superficial truth-telling will not lead to liberation. White people, often incentivized to avoid difficult truths, must dig deeper.

Jesus’ Mandate for Justice and Healing

In addition to these lessons, another mandate from scripture comes from Luke 6:20, where Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor.” Likewise, in Luke 14:13, Jesus instructs us to invite the poor to our banquets. Dr. Catherine Meeks, founder of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, challenges us: “How do I want to serve those who don’t have what they need?”

The Four Steps to Healing and Reparations

At the summit, I learned about the four essential steps to healing. First, the process begins with truth-telling. Second, comes reckoning, which involves publicly owning the harms and injustices. The third step is discernment, where we collectively define what healing looks like. Finally, the fourth step, reparations, involves repairing, restoring, and making amends for past wrongs.

Misunderstandings About Reparations

However, as Dr. Meeks explained, reparations have been misunderstood as simply writing a check. True reparations, she emphasized, demand equity in education, housing, and healthcare. “Reparations should focus on systemic change,” she says. Furthermore, Dr. Meeks believes focusing solely on individuals, rather than systems, misses the larger point.

Reparations: A Community-focused Solution

Moreover, Dr. Meeks warns, “You can write a check, but you may ignore the ongoing inequities.” She adds, “If you want real reparations, it must focus on communities, not individuals.”

Reckoning and Repair: Taking Responsibility

During the reckoning stage, presenters recommended being specific. Churches must examine their archives, name names, and take full responsibility for their histories. In fact, one metaphor presented described living in a house with structural issues. While we may not have built the house, we must acknowledge the damage and take steps to repair it.

Discernment: Finding Your Role in Healing

Discernment, the third step, is far more complex. As Dr. Meeks explains, “God is calling you to do something. Your job is to figure out what that is.” Everyone has a unique role in healing and systemic change, though these roles may differ. For example, a Black woman shared her experience as the only Black person in a large, wealthy Episcopal congregation. When asked why she continued attending, she responded, “God asked me to.”

Related: Can the Church Lead the Way in Reparations?

Key Takeaways from the Episcopal Summit

Here are some key takeaways from the summit:

• Healing is generational; trauma passes down through many generations.
• The Episcopal Church has historically enabled white supremacy.
• Real reparations come without strings attached.
• True reparations focus on communities, not individuals.
• The check alone cannot heal internalized oppression.
• The injured party defines what reparations should look like.
• Structures of oppression were built relationally, and they must be dismantled in the same way.

Moving Forward with Repair the Breach NOLA

As I bring this wisdom back to Repair the Breach NOLA, I hope we avoid long delays. More importantly, I hope we don’t waste time debating definitions, as some other groups have done. Instead, I want us to agree on the basics and take action in our community. With our experience and talents, we should engage churches as soon as possible. We can experiment with various approaches, learning from both our successes and failures. Personally, I believe that moving forward, even with mistakes, is far better than standing still out of fear.

Taking a Leap of Faith

Finally, Lauren Anderson, who led a goal-setting session for our group, made an excellent suggestion. She recommended that, before approaching any church, we ensure we have the support and information we need. Then, perhaps, we can all hold hands and take a great leap of faith.