This month marks five years since George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, setting off a worldwide protest against racial injustice. For the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the watershed moment represented the opportunity to embark on a mission of linking spirituality to racial healing.  

In 2022, the diocese launched a multi-year initiative called “Spirituality and Race,” aiming to address racial injustice through spiritual reflection and community engagement. The initiative is designed to explore the historical roots of racism, promote healing, and build a community that fosters unity and equity. 

This year, the diocese deepened its commitment to confronting the nation’s history of racism by creating a reparations task force, led by Rev. Sister Veronica Dunbar, and raising funds for reparations programs. The Diocese of Michigan joins a growing movement within the Episcopal Church, with dioceses in Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington also working to study and fund reparations programs.  

The task force will hold listening sessions across the diocese to gather input on how members of the community feel about reparations and what steps should be taken moving forward.   

Bishop Bonnie Perry and Rev. Dunbar from the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan spoke with “American Black Journal” host Stephen Henderson about the initiative and how the diocese is using it to break down barriers around race and racism.