Reparations
The Reparations Task Force at Middle Collegiate Church is dedicated to justice and healing, inspired by the leadership of Rev. Jacqui Lewis. Meeting monthly, we focus on uncovering the church’s colonized history, developing actionable reparations recommendations based on our working definition, and strengthening partnerships with Black and Indigenous communities to support reparative justice initiatives. Together, we strive to transform our collective past into a foundation for equity and restoration.
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Defining reparations
The Middle Reparations Task Force has developed a definition of reparations inspired by the Movement for Black Lives Reparations Toolkit and the United Nations’ principles and guidelines for reparations:
The Middle Collegiate Church Reparations Task Force defines reparations as making amends for colonization and slavery perpetuated by white supremacist theology. We believe reparations must be pursued in relationship with the harmed communities, centering their voices and ensuring satisfaction with the reparative actions taken.
Reparative actions include, but are not limited to:
- Acknowledging our church’s role in the colonization, slavery, and genocide of Black and Indigenous people.
- Recognizing the ongoing harm caused by colonization and slavery and committing to ensuring these harms are not repeated.
- Supporting Black and Indigenous organizations actively addressing these injustices.
- Providing economic compensation to the harmed communities.
- Dismantling modern-day racist systems through activism, anti-racist education, and systemic reform.
- Engaging in spiritual and organizational self-examination and repentance.
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery.
Through these actions, we aim to advance justice, healing, and restoration within our community and beyond.
Confronting the past
Middle Collegiate Church and the Reparations Task Force are committed to uncovering and sharing the truth about our church’s historical involvement in slavery and colonization. We recognize the enduring need for reparations to address the harms inflicted on Black and Indigenous communities and how these harms continue to reverberate today.
Our efforts have included preaching about Middle’s history and the urgent call for reparations, as well as hosting listening circles to create space for our church community to reflect and envision what reparative actions might look like for Middle. Together, we strive to confront our past and build a future rooted in justice and accountability.
Get Involved and Learn More
For those starting on their own institutional or personal reparations journey, we have compiled a list of resources below that we have found helpful.
Please contact us at middlereparations@gmail.com if you would like to join the Middle Reparations Task Force or have any questions.
resources
The Middle Collegiate Church Reparations Task Force draws inspiration from the work of numerous scholars, activists, artists, and community members—especially Black and Indigenous voices. Below is a selection of key resources that have guided our efforts. While not exhaustive, we welcome your suggestions and recommendations at middlereparations@gmail.com.
Reading Material
- Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality – UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- “The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates – The Atlantic
- Land Reparations & Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit – Resource Generation
- “Lenape & the Lenapehoking” – Events and exhibit at Brooklyn Public Library
- M4BL Reparations Now Toolkit – The Movement for Black Lives
- “Making Amends: The History of Reparations” – Reuters
- “Medical Reparations: A Resolution Paper” – The Repair Project
- “Reparations” – Cross Cultural Solidarity History Project
- “Reparations” – Racial Equity Tools
- Reparations Daily(ish) Substack – Ongoing updates on reparations initiatives
- Reparations in the United States Timeline – University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries
- “The Time for Healing Is Now” – National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
- The Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada – Insights and learnings from Canada’s efforts
- Reparations 4 Slavery – Advocacy for reparations initiatives
- Reparations Narrative Lab – Centering stories of reparative justice
- “What Reparations Might Look Like for Indigenous Peoples” – Cheyenne Bearfoot
- “Why We Need Reparations for Black Americans” – The Brookings Institution
Current U.S. Reparations Efforts and Organizations to Support
- December 12th Movement – Advocating for reparations and racial justice in New York State.
- kinSHIFT – Supporting Indigenous sovereignty and reconciliation efforts.
- Manna-hatta Fund – Funding initiatives to support Indigenous communities and reparative justice.
- National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) – Leading efforts to promote reparations for African Americans.
- NAARC’s Preliminary 10-Point Reparations Plan – A comprehensive framework for reparations in the U.S.
- N’COBRA: National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America – Advocating for reparations and equity for Black Americans.
These organizations and efforts are actively working to advance reparative justice across the United States.
Faith Communities and Reparations, Racial Justice, and Reconciliation
- “A Christian Call for Reparations” by Kelly Brown Douglas – Sojourners
- “Dismantling the Structures & Repairing the Damage of Racism in Minnesota” – The Minnesota Council of Churches
- “Faith Communities–Designing a Plan of Repair” – Reparations 4 Slavery
- “Racial Reconciliation, Healing, and Justice-Making” – The Episcopal Church
- Report on Slavery and Racism in the History of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary – Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- “Sacred Ground: A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith” – The Episcopal Church
- “Support for Reparations for African Americans” – The United Methodist Church
- Princeton Seminary & Slavery – Princeton Seminary’s historical research on its ties to slavery
These resources reflect how faith communities are confronting their historical roles in injustice and working toward reparations, racial justice, and reconciliation.