Our Racial Justice Working Group follows the news of ongoing reparations processes as they unfold in institutions of The Episcopal Church. One of TEC’s oldest seminaries, the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), recently announced the next phase of its historical research and monetary reparations: “VTS breaks ground on reparations memorial honoring at least 557 African American laborers.” —Episcopal News Service, September 26, 2025

The historical research for VTS’ reparations program includes identifying the enslaved and free laborers who worked at the seminary from its founding in 1823 to 1951. The annual payments will be drawn from the Seminary’s $2.8 million endowment. In addition to making annual cash payments to the oldest living descendants, VTS is establishing relationships with church communities. The article concludes: “In addition to the reparations payments, the seminary also has formalized relationships with two local Black congregations, Meade Memorial Episcopal Church and Oakland Baptist Church, and it has awarded $20,000 in grants to support the ministries of alumni working in Black contexts.”

October 14, 2025 —  Mary Beth Clack, Mary Blocher, Cindy Coldren, Pat Krol & Liz Levin