Dear People of St. James’,
At Diocesan Council in Waco, Bishop Doyle announced what he called The Missionary Vision for Racial Justice initiative, a set of investments in scholarships for students of color and programs for racial justice and healing totaling $13 million over the next 10 years. This was an exciting announcement, especially for the people of St. James’, because of the additional $1 million in support for the Pauli Murray Scholarship Fund and the naming of a $3 million Endowment for Racial Justice at the Seminary of the Southwest for our remaining living founder, Mrs. Bertha Means. Both of these steps were made in recognition of the efforts and public witness of the people of St. James’ in pushing the diocese and its institutions, as well as the city of Austin, toward practices of justice and equity.
I believe that these funds will make a difference that we cannot now imagine in the life of the Seminary of the Southwest, the diocese, and the Episcopal Church at large.
Here is a quick summary of some other aspects of the initiative:
EHF has pledged $1 million to continue its congregational engagement work in the area of racial justice over the next 10 years. Currently, EHF provides significant funding for the One Human Race initiative through this congregational engagement work. You can still sign up for In Common on February 28-29 at St. David’s to learn more.
The John and Joseph Talbot fund, $2 million, will be used for initiatives that help us to reckon with our history in the diocese of Texas. Where truth is not spoken, there cannot be healing.
The Henrietta Wells Scholarship fund, $1 million, as it is currently envisioned will help the church engage with students at HBCUs, forming them through paid internships where they can also explore vocation and identity.
The Rev. Thomas Cain Fund for Historic Black Churches, will set aside .2% annually from the Great Commission Fund for the mission, program, or maintenance of historic black churches. In 2020, the draw is estimated at $250,000. The creation of this ongoing fund recognizes that the diocese has fallen short in attending to the needs of black churches in times of struggle and many deal with intractable deferred maintenance or lack of staffing.
The Rev. David Franklin Taylor Endowed Scholarship at the Seminary of the Southwest will fund a tuition-based scholarship for black M.Div. students.
The dedication of these funds is only the first step toward real and lasting change. This is a “missionary vision for racial justice” and, so its success will be measured by how it engages Christians to give themselves to this work. As a congregation, we need to consider how we will raise up disciples of all ages who are ready to become apostles for this work. This will require building strength within so that we can go out into the harvest.
May God bless this missionary vision for racial justice and inspire in us a vision and a commitment to this work.
Rev. Eileen
