The Episcopal Church and Race
"The history of the Episcopal Church is a history of American race relations. From the development of chattel slavery in colonial Anglican Virginia to the divided Confederate and U.S. Episcopal Churches in the Civil War to the church's deep struggles over desegregation, this church has had to deal with the realities of race and racism. Remembering this tangled and difficult past is a necessary prelude towards realizing God's dream of justice and reconciliation within our church and for our nation."
- The Rev. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, PhD, Duncalf-Villavaso Professor of Church History and Dean of Community Life
Print Books
Alexander Crummell: A Study of Civilization and Discontent by Call Number: E185.97.C87 M67 1989ISBN: 9780195050967Publication Date: 1989-08-17
The Baptism of Early Virginia: How Christianity Created Race by Call Number: BT734.2 .G64 2016ISBN: 9781421419817Publication Date: 2016-02-15Black Bishop: Edward T. Demby and the Struggle for Racial Equality in the Episcopal Church by
Call Number: BX5995 .D46 B43 2001ISBN: 9780252026188Publication Date: 2000-12-27
Christian Ritual and the Creation of British Slave Societies, 1650-1780 by Call Number: BR757 .B43 2009ISBN: 9780820333397Publication Date: 2009-08-15
Episcopalians and Race: Civil War to Civil Rights by Call Number: BX5979 .S53 2000ISBN: 9780813121499Publication Date: 2000-04-01
Faith in Their Own Color: Black Episcopalians in Antebellum New York City by Call Number: BX5979 .T68 2005ISBN: 9780231508889Publication Date: 2005-10-26
Justified by her Children: Deeds of Courage Confronting a Tradition of Racism by Call Number: BX5979.5.R32 P65 2021ISBN: 9781734913637Publication Date: 2021
Let There Be Peace Among Us: A Story of the Union of Black Episcopalians by Call Number: BX5979 .R62 1990ISBN: 9781556180927Publication Date: 1990-09-01
Mastering Christianity: Missionary Anglicanism and Slavery in the Atlantic World by Call Number: HT917.C3 G55 2017ISBN: 9780190683016Publication Date: 2017-08-15- Prophetic Reconciliation: A Womanist Homiletical Pneumatology by Call Number: BT83.9 .M67 2017Publication Date: 2017Seminary of the Southwest Theses
Song in a Weary Throat: Memoir of an American Pilgrimage by Call Number: E185.97.M95 A3 2018ISBN: 9781631494581Publication Date: 2018-05-08
Yet with A Steady Beat: The African American Struggle for Recognition in the Episcopal Church by Call Number: BX5979 .L49 1996ISBN: 9781563381300Publication Date: 1996-01-01
e-books
This Band of Sisterhood: Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith, and the Church by ISBN: 9781640653511Publication Date: 2021-07-20
The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community by ISBN: 9781640654242Publication Date: 2021-05-17
The Origins of Proslavery Christianity: White and Black Evangelicals in Colonial and Antebellum Virginia by ISBN: 9780807858776Publication Date: 2008-05-19
Union of Black Episcopalians
- Union of Black Episcopalians
Mission for the 21st Century:
To unite the diverse cultures, concerns and gifts of Black Episcopalians by providing preparation and encouragement for living the Baptismal Covenant and fully participating in the mission and governance of The Episcopal Church.
Current News
Diocese of Texas
Diocese of Texas Missionary Vision for Racial Justice
At the 171st Diocesan Council, Diocesan Bishop C. Andrew Doyle announced that the Diocese would commit $13 million towards scholarships and projects aiming to effect racial healing. Seminary of the Southwest $5.5 million of the committed amount to continue and expand our work of racial healing already in progress. This is one of the many steps that will need to be taken on our path towards justice and reconciliation.
- The Episcopal Church in Texas, 1838-1874: From its Foundation to the Division of the Diocese by Call Number: BX5917.T4 B76 v.1Publication Date: 1963
- The Episcopal Church in Texas: the Diocese of Texas, 1875-1965 by Call Number: BX5917.T4 B76 v.2ISBN: 9780890155059Publication Date: 1988-08-01
Photo
On Saturday, August 10, 2019, members of the Seminary of the Southwest community participated in the annual Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage. Seminary of the Southwest faculty, students, and alumni are picture here gathered on the steps of the Lowndes County Courthouse in Hayneville, Alabama.
Photo Credit: The Rev. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, PhD, Duncalf-Villavaso Professor of Church History
Becoming Beloved Community
Resources for Racial Reconciliation and Justice from The Episcopal Church
"Members of the Presiding Bishop’s staff have curated this list of resources for racial justice and reconciliation. This is by no means exhaustive; however, we are aware that many leaders are hoping to deepen their learning, and these resources should help you to move in the right direction."
Resources for Racial Reconciliation and Justice. The Episcopal Church. n.d. Web. 27 Oct 2019.
Resolution C019 in 2015 called the Episcopal Church to face our sin of racism and work within our congregations to promote racial reconciliation. The Episcopal Church has provided numerous resources for this journey which can be found at the link below.
Racial Reconciliation. The Episcopal Church. n.d. Web. 28 Sep. 2019.
Traces of the Trade
Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North
"The Episcopal Church, through its Executive Council’s Anti-Racism Committee, has called for dioceses and congregations to view our PBS documentary, “Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North,” and to participate in facilitated conversations about the film."
The Episcopal Church and Race
"At General Convention this summer, our church made the strongest commitment in a generation to racial justice and reconciliation... Today, we write to welcome sisters and brothers in both Houses and ultimately all Episcopalians to join us in this ministry. The pain of racial injustice and division has wracked our church and the many communities where we both proclaim and embody the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our collective prayer and action can begin to heal what is broken and nurture the Beloved Community that is God’s dream for all."
Resolution B004: "Dismantling Racism and Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation
"Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That this 79th General Convention affirms that we condemn racism in all its forms, institutional, systemic, and personal, and we encourage all task forces, commissions, committees, parishes, centers and individuals in The Episcopal Church involved in the work of dismantling racism and seeking to foster racial healing, justice, and reconciliation to expand the language used to designate or describe that work..."
Full text: Resolution B004
Websites and Articles
- Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing. The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and The Episcopal Church. n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2019.“The Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing is imagined as a brave space where there is enough courage to allow for racial healing and reconciliation to occur.”
- Becoming Beloved Community: The Episcopal Church's Long-Term Commitment to Racial Healing, Reconciliation, and Justice. Web. 09 Sep. 2019.The Episcopal Church's long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice.
- The Church Awakens: African Americans and the Struggle for Justice. The Archives of the Episcopal Church. 2017. Web. 30 Jul. 2019.The Church Awakens is an electronic publication and online exhibit of The Archives of the Episcopal Church first created in 2008 and updated periodically
- Prayers for Racial Reconciliation and Justice. Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church. 03 Jan. 2018. Web. 30 Jul. 2019.Resolution A182 of the 2015 General Convention calls the wider church to be in conversation and to take action on racial reconciliation and justice.
- Sacred Ground: A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith. The Episcopal Church. n.d. Web. 24 Sep. 2019.Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.
- The Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation. Sewanee: The University of the South. n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2019.The Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation at the University of the South is a six-year initiative investigating the university’s historical entanglements with slavery and slavery’s legacies.
One Human Race Austin
"The One Human Race Initiative is a ministry of the Union of Black Episcopalians, Myra McDaniel Chapter. We create a safe, open, and productive environment for everyone to learn and share about race."
- One Human Race Austin. n.d. Web. 23 Feb 2020.
The One Human Race Initiative leads workshops appropriate for congregations in the Austin area to create a safe space for exploring racism and white supremacy.
Verna Dozier
Verna Dozier was a lay theologian and educator in the Episcopal Church. Having famously stated that she did not want to be demoted to bishop from lay minister, she was an advocate for the authority and ministry of the laity. Verna helped shape the role of the laity and biblical education in the Episcopal Church.
Commencement Sermon by Verna J. Dozier. Seminary of the Southwest. 20 May 1997.
- The Calling of the Laity: Verna Dozier's Anthology by Call Number: BV4525 .C44 1988ISBN: 1566990270Publication Date: 1988-01-01
Confronted by God: The Essential Verna Dozier by Call Number: BX5979 .C66 2006ISBN: 1596270233Publication Date: 2006-05-01
The Dream of God: A Call to Return (revised edition) by ISBN: 9781640655225Publication Date: 2021-08-17
Equipping the Saints: A Method of Self-Directed Bible Study for Lay Groups by Call Number: BS600.2 .D69Publication Date: 1981- Sisters and Brothers: Reclaiming a Biblical Idea of Community by Call Number: BS680 .W7 D695 1993ISBN: 9781561010769Publication Date: 1993-03-01
