Racial Justice
The Episcopal Diocese of New York is committed to truth-telling, healing, and transformation.
We believe that the Church must honestly face its role in the sin of slavery and its enduring legacies. Guided by faith and grounded in love, the Reparations Committee and the newly formed Moses Commission are working—independently and in collaboration—to help our Diocese move forward on the path of repair.
Diocesan Antiracism Committee
At the Episcopal Diocese of New York, we believe that love, justice, and honesty are essential to who we are as followers of Jesus. Our Antiracism workshops help us see how racism, conscious and unconscious, has shaped our lives and our world. With courage, care, and connection, we begin the work of transformation.
The Reparations Commission
The Diocesan Reparations Commission was created following the 330th Diocesan Convention, in response to a call from the wider Episcopal Church to examine how our institutions benefited from slavery, segregation, and systemic discrimination. The Commission defines reparations as a process of remembering, repairing, restoring, and reconciling, not only through financial means, but through historical reckoning and moral accountability. It centers on the belief that true justice begins with truth.
The Commission’s Work
This work lays a foundation for discernment about future truth-telling and reconciliation efforts throughout our Diocese.
Collecting and documenting evidence of the Diocese’s complicity in the institution of slavery.
Encouraging congregations to explore their histories through storytelling and research.
Facilitating conversations across our communities using tools like The Diocese of New York Examines Slavery, a 30-minute video resource for parish reflection and dialogue.
The Moses Commission
Announced by Bishop Matthew Heyd on Juneteenth 2025, the Moses Commission builds on the work of the Reparations Commission to further address the legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This new body is entrusted with stewarding the Diocese’s Reparations Fund and directing its use to support efforts that expose and repair those legacies.
Looking Ahead
Bishop Heyd has charged the Moses Commission with proposing its initial grantmaking focus by the Feast of Absalom Jones in early 2026. He has also recommended that 1% of all diocesan property sales be directed to replenish the Reparations Fund.
As other institutions step back from racial equity work, the Episcopal Diocese of New York is stepping forward. Together, through the faithful work of the Reparations Committee and the Moses Commission, we continue the holy work of repair, rooted in truth, guided by justice, and inspired by hope.
Everyone in our Diocese has a role to play, through learning, prayer, financial support, and deep listening. We invite you to join us.