Anglican Bishop of Jamaica Dr. Howard Gregory
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By Nakinskie Robinson
Anglican Bishop of Jamaica Dr. Howard Gregory is calling for reparatory justice to accompany Sunday's apology issued by the United Reformed Church (URC) for its role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans.
The UK headquartered church presented a formal expression of regret during a ceremony at Webster Memorial United Church in St. Andrew.
The apology, presented by URC Moderator Reverend Dr. Tessa Henry-Robinson, was acknowledged by Culture Minister Olivia Grange.
It has, however, been met with mixed reviews from the public.
Dr. Howard Gregory, who welcomed the apology, says despite such scrutiny, it is important that the role played be acknowledged, adding that those who preach about forgiveness are duty-bound to take the necessary steps to right historical wrongs.
But he says reparatory actions must now follow the formal declaration.
"Reparative justice from a biblical perspective involves several steps. There is, of course, the dialogue that needs to take place, that begins a process of acknowledgement. As I'm saying, for example, government to government, the UK has not entered into that discussion as yet."
While some churches have begun the process of apology, Dr. Gregory argued that there must still be dialogue about what next actions are appropriate.
"It's not about cash, though cash can be a part of what is done. It may be about empowerment, positioning us as people who have been limited by the opportunities to be able to function in the global world," he suggested.
Dr. Gregory was a guest on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM.
In response to the apology, Moderator of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Reverend Gary Harriott on Sunday pledged to give parcels of land to the most vulnerable groups, noting that land plays a crucial role in building generational wealth.
The transatlantic slave trade is considered one of the greatest crimes against humanity.
The URC has about 42,000 members in about 1,200 congregations.
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