The work of seeking racial justice is founded on our Baptismal Covenant, that “we will seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor” as ourselves and to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305)
As together we in this diocese strive to become a more antiracist body, the Racial Justice Commission exists to provide tools, experiences, leadership, accompaniment and, sometimes, challenge to diocesan leaders, congregations and other Episcopal communities--so that together, our diocese can better live out Jesus' prayer to embody God's dream of "on earth as it is in heaven."
The 12-member commission in its current configuration was launched in November 2020 at Diocesan Convention. The commission is organized into five subcommittees, each with two co-chairs and a mandate to support the broader mission.
Read the Racial Justice Commission's report
in the 2022 Diocesan Convention Handbook (page H-16) here.
The leadership of our diocesan Racial Justice Commission includes:
- Bishop Alan M. Gates
- Bishop Carol J. Gallagher
- 2023 Co-Chairs: H. Mark Smith, Deacon, and W. (Will) H. Mebane Jr., St. Barnabas's Church, Falmouth
- Staff liaison: Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa (jbntagengwa@diomass.org or 617-482-4826, ext. 400
Ongoing and upcoming opportunities
- "Race, Church, and Healing" online workshop series continues through May 23
- Sri Lankan New Year Celebration, April 15, 1-4 p.m., Church of the Good Shepherd, Dedham, presented with Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Episcopalians of the Diocese of Massachusetts
- "Answering the Provocative Call" Day of Reflection and Renewal with Author Debie Thomas, April 29, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Church of Our Saviour, Brookline
Subcommittees and mandates
Structures and Systems
2023 Co-Chairs:
Kris Wile (St. Elizabeth's Church, Sudbury)
Derrick Muwina (St. Peter's Church, Cambridge)
Responsibility: Work with diocesan staff, clergy and lay leadership to create accountable and transparent structures in our diocese and Episcopal communities. This includes (but is not limited to) hiring practices, committee make-up, search-committee processes and business practices.
"Race, Church, and Healing" six-part Zoom workshop series begins Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.
Find more information, schedule and registration here.
"We hope to bring informal and formal leadership together across our diocesan community to provide a shared foundation of understanding, and pray you will be moved to join us."
Finances
2023 Co-Chairs:
Holly Maze Carter (Parish of St. John the Evangelist, Hingham)
Morgan Allen (Trinity Church, Boston)
Responsibility: Ensure financial resources are located in ways that promote antiracism--on the diocesan and congregational level. This includes, but is not limited to, how resources are allocated in the diocese, how compensation is set and justly compensating BIPOC for often unpaid volunteer labor.
Supporting BIPOC Individuals and Communities
2023 Co-Chairs:
Claudette Hunt (St. Andrew's Church, Ayer)
Eva Ortez, MANNA Community, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston
Responsibility: Help create the culture and structures in our diocese to build a beloved community where all are transformed; and where:
- BIPOC individuals and communities, especially the historically Black churches, feel welcomed, supported, sustained, embraced, respected and empowered; and especially in the leadership of our diocese;
- their voices are listened to and lifted up;
- their talents, skills and experiences are valued;
- our ordination, nominating and other processes to raise up lay and ordained leaders elevate and celebrate BIPOC;
- BIPOCs and people who are white work alongside each other as equals.
Reparations
2023 Co-Chairs:
Constance Perry (Trinity Church, Boston)
Chris Wendell (St. Paul's Church, Bedford)
Responsibility: In the name of repentance for the harm done by the enslavement of individuals and systemic racism, provide resources, experiences and leadership for the diocese, its congregations and its Episcopal communities as we take action to 1) change how we tell our own histories and present-day story, and 2) make financial reparations.
Forming Antiracist Episcopal Communities
2023 Co-Chairs:
Chitral de Mel (Church of the Good Shepherd, Dedham)
Deborah Gardner Walker (St. Peter's Church, Beverly)
Responsibility: Foster active antiracist Episcopal communities by having theologically grounded antiracist formation offerings; rethinking liturgy through an antiracism lens; and also activating our congregations to act for racial justice in the world.
Tools and resources
News updates
January 2023: Racial Justice Commission's study series invites engagement with "What is Truth?" again this Lent and beyond
January 2023: Racial Justice Commission begins new year with new leaders, renewed focus
November 2022: Racial Justice Commission launches REDI Assesment
November 2022: "The time is now": Diocesan Convention creates Reparations Fund with $11.1 million goal
April 2022: Reparations Subcommittee invites participation in regional listening gatherings this May
March 2022: Listening sessions in May to further year of discernment toward reparations
January 2022: New "What is Truth?" Lenten series launches year of study toward reparations
December 2021: Responses to Questions and Comments at Diocesan Convention
November 2021: Presentation to Diocesan Convention
September 2021: "Racial Justice Commission to begin roll-out of new resources at Diocesan Convention"
March 2021: "Revitalized Racial Justice Commission extends invitation and challenge in this 'kairos moment'"