Diversity Issues
All white clergy apologizes ‘to the African American community for slavery and its aftermath’ at Lansing event
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“As white Christians, we repent of our complicity in the belief in white supremacy: the belief that people of European descent are superior in intelligence, skills, imagination, and perseverance.” This statement was made in unison by an all-white group of Lansing clergy to fellow clergy of color. In his welcome speech and opening prayer, Reachout Christian Center’s Pastor David Foreman introduced a gathering of an all-white clergy who were present to “apologize for the sins of slavery and its aftermath,” as well as a presentation on a reparations model pledged by majority white houses of worship in Lansing. Hosted by the Justice League of Greater Lansing, the Jan. 28 event was held to “repair the breach caused by centuries of slavery, inequality of wealth accumulation, and the failure to live into God’s Plan of equality for all of humanity,” said a public flyer from the JLGLM released to attendees of the ceremony.
The group was founded in June 2021 by JLGLM’s vice president Willye Bryan. According to the organization’s website, the Justice League is a faith-based organization that makes “the connection between faith and racial justice in the form of reparations.”
Prince Solace began the service and introduced each member of the organization who spoke to the audience.