The Racial Justice Commission's Subcommittee on Reparations has issued the following letter of invitation regarding the series of regional online Reparations Listening Gatherings in May, open to all in the diocesan community. Online registration is now open for each of the sessions. The links follow below.
April 7, 2022
Dear People of the Diocese of Massachusetts,
Last November's Diocesan Convention adopted a resolution, "Charting the Long Road Towards Reparations," that 2022 would be a year of study and discernment "in the name of repentance, reconciliation and accountability to the descendants of enslaved Africans and their communities."
An important part of this process is to hear what you, our diocesan community, have to say. From Monday, May 2 through Saturday, May 21, the Subcommittee on Reparations of the diocesan Racial Justice Commission will hold nine regional online Reparations Listening Gatherings. These gatherings are about listening to you. In order to frame our time together, we ask you to come prepared to speak to the following question:
When you hear the word "reparations," what are your feelings, thoughts, concerns, questions?
In order to give as many of you as possible a chance to share your response to the reparations question, we will need to limit the amount of time each has to speak. The time may range from 3-5 minutes depending on the number of people who are in attendance.
These Reparations Listening Gatherings are not the time for debate or arguing points of view. They are a time to respectfully share your feelings, thoughts, concerns and questions, to listen respectfully and sacredly to the feelings, thoughts, concerns and questions of others, not only with your ears, but also with your hearts and humanity.
As we enter into our collective decision-making process about what form reparations will take in our diocese, we will consider all that we heard from one another during these gatherings, as well as what our subcommittee has heard and learned from a variety of sources during this year.
To anyone in the diocese who has ever said, "Well, nobody ever asked me"--well, we are asking you.
Please join us. Let your voice be heard.
Faithfully,
Members of the Subcommittee on Reparations
Constance R. Perry, Co-Chair
The Rev. H. Mark Smith, Co-Chair
Michael Bent
Leonie Drummond
Louise Gant
The Rev. James Hairston
Wayne Kennard
The Rev. Carol Morehead
Timothy Potter
The Rev. Tamra Tucker
Registration is now open for the Reparations Listening Gatherings, to be hosted by the Subcommittee on Reparations and the diocesan regional canons. Use the links below to register.
Sessions have been intentionally organized for attendance by region, but those who cannot attend a session for their region may register for another date.
Central Region:
- Monday, May 2, 10 a.m.-noon
- Wednesday, May 4, 6-8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m.-noon
Southern Region:
- Monday, May 9, 10 a.m.-noon
- Wednesday, May 11, 6-8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m-noon
Northern & Western Region:
- Monday, May 16, 10 a.m.-noon
- Wednesday, May 18, 6-8 p.m. (Click here to register for May 18)
- Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m.-noon (Click here to register for May 21)
Once registered via one of the links above, you will receive an e-mail with the Zoom link for the Listening Gathering date you have signed up to attend. This is your individual Zoom link for joining; please do not share it.
Having a registration problem? E-mail reparations@diomass.org and type Reparations Listening Gatherings in the subject line in order to receive a prompt response.