| [RGJ-09] | On Directing the Office of the General Assembly to Issue Apologies and Reparations for the Racist Closure of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, Juneau, Alaska |
Comment—From the Special Committee on Racism Truth and Reconciliation
The Reverend Paul Timothy Roberts Sr., President of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, shared with the Special Committee on Racism Truth and Reconciliation that the time for decisive action is now – we (the church) need “to put our feet in the street” and move beyond study and report generation. History reveals opportunities where the church has failed to take notice of the call to turn away from the sin of racism and turn toward God’s call to apologize, acknowledge, and confess the wounds inflicted on our Alaskan Native siblings in Christ. This is a turning point moment; a call to recognize and respond to the call for atonement, repentance, and repair. As long as White supremacy is not addressed in our church, our institutional health and representation as the Body of Christ is at stake.
Advice and Counsel—From the Racial Equity Advisory Committee (REAC)
The Racial Equity Advocacy Committee (REAC) recommends the 225th General Assembly (2022) approve RGJ-09.
This overture takes important steps toward transformative repentance supported by reparative action. It serves as a model for confronting the sins of our racism as a denomination by not only speaking the truth and apologizing for our violent actions, but also by seeking to begin some semblance of repair with tangible action. As noted in this overture in reference to RGJ-07 from REAC, the PC(USA) has much work to do with regards to confronting and addressing the continued effects of our racism on siblings of color. The actions proposed in this overture serve as a solid first step in the PC(USA) making reparations toward Indigenous siblings. We pray there will be many more movements following the lead of this overture.
Comment—From the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA)
Recommendation 2d: Direct the Presbyterian Mission Agency to donate $300,000, in the name of Memorial Presbyterian Church, to the Presbyterian Foundation Native American Church Property Fund, and urge presbyteries and congregations of the PC(USA) also to donate in the name of Memorial Presbyterian Church or present and past churches of other Native Americans and other people of color important to them.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) is grateful for the obvious care, prayer, and deep research that has gone into the construction of this overture. We also note with gratitude that the current Northern Light United Church and Presbytery of the Northwest Coast are proactively engaged in partnership to address the difficulty that is still present from the closure and merger of Memorial PC into Northern Light United Church. In particular we celebrate the remarkable commitment made by Northern Light United Church through their congregational resolution on repair which is part of the rationale. This is a just, imaginative, comprehensive approach to repair and can be a model for others seeking to repair a similar historical harm.
The PMA Board has authorized formation of the Center for Repair of Historical Harm (Center for Repair), in cooperation with OGA and ASG for the express purpose of ministering together with mid-councils, congregations, domestic and international partners in the ministry of repair and reconciliation from the sins of structural racism and white supremacist ways of being. PMA knows we are entering a season in which the spiritual integrity of the future church depends on repairing the past. If the assembly approves this overture, then PMA would lift up this story as part of the work of its Center for Repair of Historical Harm. The proposed 2023-2024 Mission Budget includes a line for repair grants that could cover half of this expense. PMA would need to explore other sources for the remaining $150,000.
Advice and Counsel—From the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP)
The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy advises that the 225th General Assembly (2022) approve RJG-09 and suggests that the actions described therein could be used as a model for work done by the new Center for Repair of Historic Harms as described in FIN-11.