October 15, 2026 In the October 1-7, 2026, edition of this newsletter, The Rev. Isaac Everett, Executive Director of CRECHE, wrote to the Emmanuel Church community about CRECHE’s Charles River Episcopal Co-Housing Network) gratitude for being approved as the first designee for our vestry-voted reparationspayment (see Isaac’s note in the section below this one). We are here with some background about the process that preceded this reparations news. Last year, the vestry approved a $10,000 reparations line item in the 2026 budgeting process. The Racial Justice Working Group (RJWG) was then charged to summarize the considerations for allocating these funds. Further, the RJWG was asked to recommend whether CRECHE, who is seeking funding to paydown the construction loan taken for Jubilee House (the fifth house in the CRECHE network and shown in the pic above), would be the recipient of our reparations funds. At its September 15, 2026, meeting, the vestry voted unanimouslyto approve that disbursement for 2026. Emmanuel Church has had a relationship with CRECHE for over ten years. As the partner church for Emmanuel House (Allston), we continue to deepen our commitment to spiritually-grounded intentional community. With supporting Jubilee House financing, we are also affirming the importance of affordable housing, community engagement, and neighborhood relationship-building. Our vestry definition of reparations emphasizes that meaningful financial, material and spiritual amends for harms done should be “guided by those who are harmed.” We may then “take action to repair racial injustices and help shape flourishing communities in which everyone’s dignity is honored.” Jubilee House and its partner church, New Roots (Dorchester) share a deep vision for justice and service. In presenting its report, the RJWG proposed that this first step on the journey brings us closer to creating a culture of repair in our parish along with meaningful reparations in our outward-facing work. –Mary Beth Clack for the RJWG: Joel Anderle, Mary Blocher, Cindy Coldren, Ben Ericson, Pat Krol, Liz Levin |
A Message of Gratitude from CRECHEto Emmanuel Church |
 Debt retired, equity built! Emmanuel Church has committed 1% of its parish budget to help retire the mortgage on Jubilee House, our first-ever partnership with an African Methodist Episcopal congregation, and home to an intentional community made up entirely of people from Africa and the African Diaspora. Debt retirement doesn’t come with a ribbon-cutting, but it’s one of the most powerful, quietest ways to build real wealth. Every dollar paid down permanently lowers the cost of living for everyone who will call Jubilee House home in the years to come. This gift carries extra weight because of how Jubilee House is structured: Creche holds an equity-sharing agreement with New Roots AME Church, so debt paid down today converts into real equity for a Black-led church. That’s reparations, structurally. Grateful to Rev. Pam Werntz and the whole Emmanuel Church community for putting repair into the budget, not just a statement. Isaac Everett, Executive Director, Creche he/him, |