Realizing Beloved Community: Report from the House of Bishops Theology Committee

by Allen K. Shin (Editor), Larry R. Benfield (Editor), Michael B. Curry (Foreword by), Thomas Breidenthal (With), Laura Ahrens (With)

Overview

A major study on the theology of Beloved Community.

This long-awaited work by the church's top clergy, scholars, and thought leaders examines the theological foundation of Beloved Community and its threats. It addresses such important topics as the legacy and sin of white supremacy, economic disparity, racial healing, and the call for reparations. The committee's work sheds light on the societal and cultural implications of the largest obstacle to the core mission of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and outlines what is necessary for the future of racial justice.

"I am so grateful for the... work of the theologians and bishops who have spent the last five years working on [this study] . . . This is hard and holy work, not to hurt or harm, but to help and heal."
—Michael B. Curry, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640655935
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/14/2022
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Allen K. Shin was elected to be bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 2013, and consecrated at the Cathedral in 2014. He lives in New York, New York.

Larry R. Benfield was elected the thirteenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas in 2006 and consecrated in 2007. He lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry is the Episcopal Church’s 27th Presiding Bishop. He was the Bishop of North Carolina from 2000 to 2015. Bishop Curry has a national preaching and teaching ministry and is a regular on TV and radio and a frequent speaker at conferences around the country. His books include Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus; Following the Way of Jesus: Church’s Teachings for a Changing World; and Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times.

Thomas Breidenthal is former chair of the House of Bishops theology committee and is the former bishop of the Diocese of Southern Ohio. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Laura Ahrens is Bishop Suffragan in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. She lives in Danbury, Connecticut.

Kelly Brown Douglas is an Episcopal priest and graduate (Master of Divinity degree, doctoral degree) of Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she is now inaugural Dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Seminary. She lives in New York City.

Sathianathan Clarke is Bishop Sundo Kim Chair for World Christianity, and Professor of Theology, Culture and Mission, Wesley Theological Seminary. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Stephen Edward Fowl is Dean of Loyola College and Professor of Theology, Loyola UniversityMaryland. He lives in Baltimore.

R. William Franklin is Assisting Bishop of Long Island and the author or editor of seven books. He lives in New York City.

Charles Mathewes is Carolyn Barbour Professor of Religious Studies, University of Virginia. He lives near Charlottesville, Virginia.

Beverly Mitchell is Professor of Historical Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Prince G. Singh is Bishop Provisional for the Episcopal Dioceses of Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan.

George Wayne Smith is a native of Texas and a graduate of Baylor University. He also holds advanced and professional degrees from Baylor, Nashotah House, and the University of the South. He has chaired liturgy commissions in two dioceses and is a member of the Association of Diocesan Liturgy and Music Commissions. He is the former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.

Kathryn Tanner is Marquand Professor of Systematic Theology, Yale Divinity School.

G. Porter Taylor is the former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and Visiting Professor of Divinity, School of Divinity, Wake Forest University.

James F. Turrell is Dean of the School of Theology, University of South.

Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows is the first black woman to be elected a diocesan bishop in the Episcopal Church. She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Carol Gallagher is the former bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Southern Virginia and Assisting Bishop of North Dakota. She is the first American Indian (Cherokee) female bishop in the Episcopal Church. She is currently Canon for the Central Region in the Diocese of Massachusetts. She is the author of Reweaving the Sacred: A Practical Guide to Change and Growth for Challenged Congregations. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Gretchen Rehberg is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane.

Altagracia Perez-Bullard served as co-chair of the Episcopal House of Bishops theology committee and is assistant professor of Practical Theology, Virginia Theological Seminary.

Katherine Sonderegger is William Meade Chair of Systematic Theology, Virginia Theological Seminary.

Table of Contents

Realizing Beloved Community

Foreword Michael B. Curry 3

Theology Committee of the House of Bishops (2017-2022) 9

Introduction 13

1 White Supremacy and Beloved Community 19

2 Beloved Community: How We as the Episcopal Church Learn to Listen 35

3 Reparations and Beloved Community 61

4 The Doctrine of Discovery and Beloved Community 75

Conclusion 83

Appendix 1 A Sampling of Reparation Projects in the Episcopal Church 87

Appendix 2 Some Resources for Beloved Community 97

Realizando la amada comunidad

Prefacio De Michael B. Curry 113

Comité de Teología de la Cámara de Obispos y Obispas (2017-2022) 119

Introduction 123

1 La supremacía blanca y la amada comunidad 129

2 La amada comunidad: cómo nosotros, como la Iglesia episcopal, aprendemos a escuchar 147

3 Reparaciones y la amada comunidad 177

4 La doctrina del descubrimiento y la amada comunidad 191

Conclusion 199

Apéndice 1 Una muestra de proyectos de reparaciones en la Iglesia episcopal 203

Apéndice 2 Algunos recursos para la amada comunidad 215

Editorial Reviews

This is a welcome and important statement by the House of Bishops Theology Committee that will strengthen and continue the church’s important conversations about beloved community. It challenges us not to stop with conversation but to move on to action — repairing and transforming relationships through acts of material repentance.”
—The Living Church

"I am so grateful for the... work of the theologians and bishops who have spent the last five years working on [this study] . . . This is hard and holy work, not to hurt or harm, but to help and heal."
—Michael B. Curry, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church

From the Publisher