Service of Repentance: A landmark event of the Episcopal Church

October 06, 2008 A landmark event of the Episcopal Church this weekend was the two days of solemn observance of the involvement and participation by The Episcopal Church in the institution of transatlantic slavery.

The welcome and hospitality from the clergy, staff and membership of historic St. Thomas African Episcopal Church set an example of the highest order for the whole of the Episcopal Church.

Although the concurred General Convention resolution A-123 named the site for the Service of Repentance as the National Cathedral, the event was held at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia. There was no public explanation offered regarding the change of venue named in the resolution.

The solemn observance event marked the commencement of a comprehensive program called for in resolution A-123 that asks every diocese to:

• collect and document detailed information in its community on the complicity of The Episcopal Church in the institution of slavery;
• collect and document detailed information in its community on the subsequent history of segregation and discrimination
• collect and document detailed information in its community on the economic benefits The Episcopal Church derived from the institution of slavery

It is my hope and expectation that every diocese in The Episcopal Church who participated at the 75th General Convention in Columbus, Ohio and voted in favor of resolution A-123, and has not already initiated this work in their diocese, begin now.

Link to resolution A-123:
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2006-A123