We Will Repay - reparations study resource
A new study resource designed to help churches and Christians delve into the discussion of reparations on biblical terms has been released
We Will Repay is a series of studies that support churches as they think through the Biblical rationale for reparations.
It has been produced by Baptists Together, The Racial Justice Advocacy Forum and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).
The Methodists, the Church of England, the United Reformed Church, Quakers, Churches Together in England, CTBI and Baptists are all engaged in serious conversations about reparations.
The resource author is Dr Eleasah Louis, theologian, consultant and resource developer.
She said, ‘This resource is designed for Christians and active members of local churches to study, discuss and consider the biblical case for reparations.
‘Of course, personal politics and experience will always emerge in conversation – after all, doing theology is always contextual.
‘Acknowledging this, We Will Repay takes up the challenge of helping Christians discern God’s heart on this matter as it is revealed in the Holy Scriptures.’
The resource ‘concerns the responsibility of particular churches to enact reparative justice - and is not a call to individual responsibility,’ Eleasah explained.
‘The churches in question are those historical churches that engaged in and/or profited – or even continue to do so – from enslaving people of African descent,
‘Complicity in this horrific historical episode includes the Christianising of African peoples to subjugate and manipulate their wills – entwined within biblical Christian mission lay a colonial and supremacist way of thinking, knowing and doing which for centuries was part of the inner workings of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.’
She hopes churches will be ‘empowered and inspired to lead society (so far as they will be led) to engage in reparative justice.’
Nevertheless, she stressed, the resource has been designed ‘so that each study group or individual can be thoroughly informed and challenged, yet given the room to discern for themselves – hopefully with humility, love and spiritual conviction.’
Baptists Together Justice Enabler Wale Hudson Roberts has led sessions on reparations at two recent Baptist Assemblies (2022 and 2024).
‘Since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the subject has captured the Christian imagination,’ he said.
‘His murder did more than expose an unjust wound, but a global injustice that can be reversed through reparations; a process that intersects both apology and practice; returning stolen resources remains the clarion call.’
Describing We Will Repay as ‘thoughtful, reflective, and accessible’, Wale said the studies ‘support churches as they think through the Biblical rationale for reparations.’
He continued, ‘By using Old and New Testament narratives that support reparations, author Eleasah Louis argues why the God of justice is fully in support of reparatory justice.
‘There is a paucity of resources that employ the scriptures to champion reparations, so We Will Repay is a rare find.
‘For churches keen to know why reparations has become a popular conversation, but more importantly, what the Bible has to say about reparations, We Will Repay is the resource to read.’
Baptist Times, 03/10/2024