In 1989, the late Congressman John Conyers first developed a piece of legislation, known as H.R. 40, that would establish a commission to study and develop reparations proposals for African Americans. It has yet to pass Congress. We are appreciative of the ongoing congressional champions Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Cory Booker for keeping momentum behind this effort, including introducing this legislation in the 119th Congress.
In 2006, General Convention passed a resolution calling for “legislation initiating study of and dialogue about the history and legacy of slavery in the United States and of proposals for monetary and non-monetary reparations to the descendants of the victims of slavery.” Two hundred fifty years of slavery followed by 100 years of segregation and discrimination have caused persistent and significant disparities in education, healthcare, and wealth in the white and Black populations. These disparities and multigenerational grievances must be addressed today.
Since that resolution was passed, The Episcopal Church has taken part in historic steps to build momentum behind the legislation. In 2019, the Rt. Rev. Eugene Sutton, then serving as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, and Episcopalian and filmmaker Katrina Browne testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties in support of H.R. 40. After persistent advocacy by Episcopal Public Policy Network members and with our coalition partners, the bill in the 117th Congress received a record 196 cosponsors in the House and passed out of committee for the first time.
In this Congress, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Booker have reintroduced this bill. Please ask your representatives to keep this momentum going and support H.R. 40/S. 40 in the 119th Congress!
Episcopal Church background on Reparations
"We remember Tulsa not to reopen wounds, but to reveal them—so we might heal as one Body, through truth and repair".
The Rev. Lester Mackenzie, Chief of Mission Program for The Episcopal Church
As a church, we understand that the truth shall set us free and have committed to doing the work of truth-telling and reconciliation. The Episcopal Church Center staff hosted a Summit on Truth-telling and Reparations in fall 2024, which brought together more than 100 lay and clergy leaders.
Several states have successfully created similar reparations study groups, including California’s Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans and the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is developing a report on reparations proposals for African American lynching victims.
Additional Resources:
Resources for Racial Reconciliation and Justice
Repairing the Breach: The Episcopal Church and Slavery Atonement
Bishop Eugene Sutton’s 2019 testimony on H.R. 40
Episcopalian filmmaker Katrina Browne’s 2019 testimony
Episcopal Church Resolutions
2006-C011: Support Legislation for Reparations for Slavery