Summit on Truth-telling and Reparations

Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, Sept. 19-21, 2024 

A historic summit gathering for Episcopal lay, and clergy leaders engaged in reparations and truth-telling ministries.

Sponsored by the church’s Office of African Descent Ministries and the Department of Reconciliation, Justice, and Creation Care.

This summit is a crucial gathering for Episcopal lay and clergy leaders engaged in reparations and truth-telling ministries to share strategy, best practices, resources, prayer, and encouragement with one another. 

If your diocese, congregation, or organization is in any way engaged in the work of racial truth-telling and reparations—unearthing and naming historic racial injustices, reckoning with systemic harm, discerning what constitutes healing and repair, and/or working toward concrete plans toward reparations and repair—please plan to gather your stories and resources and join the circle.

Complete Agenda: Reparations Summit Agenda 

Location:Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia – in Addison Hall
Date: Sept. 19 – 21
Registration fee: $100 (includes meals)
Recommended lodging:Courtyard Marriott Alexandria Pentagon South

Start time: Thursday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m.
End time: Saturday, Sept. 21, at 12 p.m.

Agenda:

This leadership summit is a collaborative effort to draw on the wisdom of racial justice practitioners through several panel presentations and complementary working group discussions. We are all part of these important conversations.

Thursday, Sept. 19:

• 12 p.m.    Registration open
• 4 p.m.      Welcome and Gathering – Rev. Miguel Bustos, Rev. Isaiah Shaneequa Brokenleg, Rev. Dr. Altagracia Pérez-Bullard 
• 4:45 p.m. Introduction to Our Dialogue/Conversation Method – Rev. Melanie Mullen, Rev. Canon Lindsey Ardrey 
• 6 p.m.      Dinner at VTS

Part 1: TRUTH-TELLING: Theologies and Practices of Unearthing and Naming Historic, Systemic Racial Injustices

• 6:30 – 7:45 p.m.  First Conversation: What are the theological foundations and mandates for truth-telling and reparations? What does our theology tell us about how we pursue this holy work? – Rev. Peter Jarrett-Schell, Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, Rev. Canon Rachel Taber-Hamilton 
• 7:45 – 8:30 p.m.  First Small Group Discussion: Reflect on session topic, including Why are YOU engaging in this ministry? How have you engaged in the work of historic investigation and truth-telling around race?
• 8:30 – 9:00 p.m.  First Gleaning and Evening Liturgy – Bishop Marianne Budde, Rev. Glenna Huber – Diocese of Washington
• 9:00 p.m. – Adjourn for Evening

Friday, Sept. 20

PART 2 – RECKONING: Publicly Owning and Reckoning with Historic, Systemic Injustices and Harms

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.   Hotel Transport and Breakfast at VTS
• 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.     Second Conversation: Having discovered the historic truths, how do we own and reckon with them publicly in our day? How do we not simply write a paper or make a plaque and call it “done”, but instead open the way for naming past hurts and how they continue to unfold in systemic injustice? Rev. Canon Ronald Byrd, Rev. Canon Brad Hauff, Rev. Dr. Leonard Hamlin, Alan Yarborough
• 10 a.m.  – 11 a.m   Second Small Group Discussion: Reflect on your experiences with (or hopes for) publicly owning and reckoning with systemic, historic injustices in your ministry context
• 11:15 a.m – 11:45 a.m Second Gleaning: Return from small groups to share fruits with plenary
• 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.  Lunch at VTS

PART 3 – DISCERNING: Collectively Discerning What Constitutes Healing and Repair

• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.  Third Conversation: Having spoken the truth and named the hurts past and present, how do you discern what constitutes healing and repair (programs: led and designed by whom? relationships: what kind and on whose terms? money: how much, from what sources and for what purpose?) Who needs to be at the table? – Rev. Canon Chris McCloud, Rev. Grey Maggiano, Leora Tadgerson, Sarah Augustine
• 2:30 – 3:30 p.m   Third Small Group Discussion: Reflect on the session topic and your experience with (or hopes for) discern what – in your context – would constitute healing and repair of historic, systemic injustices.
• 3:30 – 4 p.m.   Break
• 4  – 4:45 p.m.  Third Gleaning: Return from small groups to share fruits with plenary
• 4:45 – 5:30 p.m.  Evening Liturgy – Stations of Repair and Truth-telling Rev. Jack Zamboni and Jonathan Gloster – Diocese of New Jersey
• 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.   Dinner at VTS  with conversation about VTS reparations program – Ebonee Davis-Hayes
• 6:30 – 8 p.m.   Unconference Community-Designed Discussion Break-outs
• 8 p.m.    Adjourn for Evening

Saturday, Sept. 21

PART 4 – Reparations and Repair Working Session

• 8 – 9 a.m.   Hotel Transport and Morning Snacks at VTS
• 9 – 9:50 a.m.   Fourth Conversation: Learning from Partners: Large-scale efforts around truth-telling and reparations – Rev. Guy Hewitt, Lindsey Delks
• 10 – 10:50  a.m.  Small Group Discussion and Report Backs: What is the emerging plan for your ministry, church, diocese or institution, wherever you are on the truth-telling and reparations journey? Reflecting on what you have seen and heard during this summit, what are the key and concrete next steps for you and your ministry, church, diocese or institution? How will you engage around systemic and structural change, as well as personal change?
• 11:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. Closing Prayer and Community Commitment Liturgy – Rev. Isaiah Shaneequa Brokenleg, Katrina Browne
• 12 p.m.     To-go lunch available at VTS

Conversation Leaders (more to come):

• The Rev. Lindsey Ardrey, Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
• The Rev. Ron Byrd, African Descent Ministries
• Don Edwards, Justice Sustainability Architects
• The Rev. Bradley Hauff, Episcopal Church Indigenous Missioner
• The Rev. Chris McCloud, Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
• The Rev. Grey Maggiano, Memorial Parish
• Diane Pollard, Episcopal Diocese of New York
• The Rev. Peter Schell, Calvary Parish
• The Rev. Stephanie Spellers
• The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton
• Leora Tadgerson
• Alan Yarborough, Office of Government Relations
• The Church of England 
• Episcopal Diocese of Washington
• Sewanee University
• Virginia Theological Seminary
• Washington National Cathedral