Celebrations, Challenges, and Complexities in Vocations of Repair: Congregations and Callings to Racial Justice

This paper builds on a research project with New-England based congregations to examine the complexities, challenges, and transformations three churches have experienced in pursuing callings to racial justice and repair. It begins by discussing the initiatives each congregation has taken in pursuing the call to racial justice, including examination of ecclesial histories and injustices, uncovering problematic theologies and spiritualities, “abolishing” interiorized bias, and taking tangible steps towards racial repair, such as making material reparations. The paper then explores the challenges and complexities congregations have faced as they have pursued vocations of repair, including confronting ecclesial complicity in racial violence and identifying paths of repair that respond meaningfully to historical harms and create future peace. The paper concludes by naming some of the “celebrations” and areas of growth for congregations in pursuing callings to racial justice, as well as identifies implications for thinking about ecclesial vocations in an age of violence.