The Shamba Initiative

Our findings, particularly regarding the Black church and seminary activities, offered a myriad of insights concerning the present extent and nature of faith-based reparations advocacy. Among the most prominent findings are:

1. There is a high and growing interest in reparations advocacy among faith leaders from many mainline denominations.

2. Institutional commitment to reparations advocacy was less apparent than sub-group activities within institutions. For example, a university chaplaincy was instrumental in advocacy while the university as a whole was supportive but had not initiated a reparations advocacy strategy.

3. Seminaries demonstrated an especially keen interest in reparations advocacy with a number of seminaries or divinity schools announcing engagement in such efforts during the project year. In addition to JCSTS, other institutions launching initiatives during the period include: McCormick Theological Seminary (Chicago), Auburn Theological Seminary (New York), Yale Divinity School, Harvard Divinity School (in conjunction with the National Council of Churches.

4. Private sector local and regional initiatives addressing local circumstances were far more prominent than advocacy for national or even state governmental action. The largest number of these efforts are faith-based.

5. Pastors and community organizers frequently perceived reparations advocacy as one of many competing claims upon their time within the context of parish ministry.

6. The absence of faith informed study materials for congregations, colleges, and seminaries was cited as a difficulty for recruiting and training faith-based advocates.

7. The absence of regular information on reparations activities, best practices, and coherent strategies contributes to a determination to address local issues and keeps similar projects in distant locations from benefiting from the learnings of similar projects elsewhere.

8. A notable absence of a national or interfaith or denominational based youth effort in reparations advocacy has the effect of diminishing the potential of youth and student advocacy.

9. Widespread interest in the dissemination of updated information, best practices and strategic planning coordination, and network development are often cited as essential to future effectiveness of reparations advocacy.

10. During the year of this research project, there was exponential growth in faith-based reparations projects. 

 

11. A common concern among those interested in this topic is the wholesale absence of leadership and cohesion across the many forms and expressions of reparation advocacy. A similar concern reported was the dearth of reliable information and training materials for use by congregations and community groups.