![]() Church Racial Justice Initiative Responds to Reparations CriticismBy: West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative BIRMINGHAM, U.K. - April 17, 2025 - PRLog -- -
Issued by: West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI) Contact: hello@wmracialjustice.org.uk WMRJI Responds Fully to Criticism of Church Reparations: Naming Colonial Reflex and Demanding Institutional Truthfulness "Reparations are not optional acts of goodwill—they are sacred acts of repair." The West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI) issues this response to the recent article published by Anglican Ink (10 April 2025), titled "Should the Church Commissioners Pay Slavery Reparations? The article questions the legitimacy, legality, and theological basis of reparative efforts by the Church of England, notably Project Spire. WMRJI rejects this framing as fundamentally flawed and morally evasive. Rather than entering serious theological and historical reflection, the article embodies what we name as a colonial reflex: a defensive instinct that emerges when historically privileged institutions or individuals are asked to account for and repair their role in racial harm. This reflex is not only institutional but personal—a deeply conditioned response rooted in colonial consciousness that spans social, cultural, and emotional dimensions. A Colonial Reflex in Action In this case, colonial reflex is characterised by three behaviours:
This reflex, whether conscious or not, stalls the necessary work of repentance and repair. It reflects a deep unwillingness to confront how transatlantic slavery built Britain's wealth – including that of cities and dioceses like Liverpool, Worcester, Bath and Wells, Bewdley, and Bristol. Churches in these regions were direct or indirect beneficiaries of systems that dehumanised Black people and commodified their labour. Many parishes were endowed with wealth derived from enslaved labour, and institutions still benefit from that accumulation today. We Must Be Honest About the Church's Past The Church of England was not merely a passive observer of the slave economy. It:
To suggest the Church made no profit is not only historically false, but also an affront to the dignity and memory of those whose lives were stolen and whose descendants continue to feel the effects. Project Spire Is the Beginning, Not the End The £100 million committed through Project Spire is a moral response to institutional sin. But it is only a starting point. Reparations must include:
To dismiss this work as mere "activism" or institutional overreach is to ignore the Church's own teachings on repentance, repair, and reconciliation. Internalised Denial: A Deeper Challenge We also name with compassion a painful reality: some within Black communities have internalised the Church's minimisation of harm. This manifests in calls for patience, fear of rocking the boat, or apologetics that diminish the scale of trauma. But silence is not neutrality. It is complicity. We honour the memory and courage of Black Anglicans, past and present, who have called the Church to justice. Their voices cannot be erased by convenience or caution. WMRJI Remains Unshakeable in Its Commitment WMRJI continues to:
We call on all Christians to reject the comfort of denial and step boldly into the discomfort of truth. Only then can we move from lament to transformation. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." (Romans 12:2) -ENDS- For further information or to request interviews, contact: hello@wmracialjustice.org.uk Notes to Editors The West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI) is a regional programme of the Church of England committed to dismantling systemic racism and promoting racial equity across six dioceses: Birmingham, Coventry, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, and Worcester. Established in response to the From Lament to Action report and supported by the Church's National Racial Justice Unit, WMRJI provides theological education, strategic resources, and anti-racism training to churches, schools, cathedrals, and theological institutions. Its work is rooted in Gospel values, aiming to build an inclusive Church where people of all racial and cultural backgrounds are welcomed, empowered, and able to flourish. End
|