Over 700 news outlets, including broadcast and newspaper outlets in large markets across the nation and around the world, such as CBS, The Washington Post, Daily Mail, USA Today and Yahoo News, have picked up an article written by an Associated Press journalist featuring the Diocese of Texas’ commitment to fund racial justice projects and to repair and commence racial healing.
This week, NPR also requested to interview Bishop Doyle for their statewide newscast to talk about the Racial Justice Initiative and for the momentum it has created throughout the nation.
The Bishop of Texas, Andy Doyle, first made the announcement while presenting a Missionary Vision for a Racial Justice Initiative at the 171st Diocesan Council held in Waco, Texas, February 7-8, 2020. The initiative includes a $13 million commitment toward racial reconciliation projects and scholarships for the future training and education of people of color.
The money for the Missionary Vision for Racial Justice Initiative will go to fund the Bertha Means Endowment at Seminary of the Southwest, the David Taylor Scholarship at Seminary of the Southwest, the Pauli Murray Scholarship Fund at Seminary of the Southwest, the Thomas Cain Fund for Historic Black Churches, the Henrietta Wells Scholarship Fund for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the John and Joseph Talbot Fund for Racial Justice, and the Episcopal Health Foundation Congregational Engagement.
According the AP article, more churches of different denominations across the United States have followed the Diocese of Texas initiative’s lead to do the same. Within the Episcopal Church, several dioceses—including Maryland, Long Island and New York—have launched reparations programs in the year, while others are preparing to do so.
To read the AP article, click here.
