Approaches to Reparations: Faith-Based, Community, and Grassroots Perspectives

This discussion on 9 February 2026, co-hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Afrikan Reparations and Quakers in Britain, explored what reparations might mean in practice.

It was chaired by Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP.

Richard Reddie, Director of Justice and Inclusion at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, spoke at the event, stressing that “If British and Irish Christians are eager to effect healing, reconciliation and repair within the Church, they must engage with reparatory justice, because this matter is about truth and justice”.

My name is Richard Reddie, and I am the Director of Justice and Inclusion for Churches Together in Britan and Ireland, which is an ecumenical organisation that encourages Christian unity among churches of all traditions, such as Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants.

I am also one of the coordinators of the Racial Justice Advocacy Forum (RJAF), alongside my colleague, Revd Wale Hudson-Roberts. The RJAF seeks to advocate on behalf of Black and Brown Christians on issues pertaining to racial justice in church and society, which also includes matters linked to reparatory justice for Transatlantic African chattel enslavement.

With regard to Transatlantic African chattel enslavement, the RJAF is encouraging the historic church denominations, mission agencies and parachurch organisations with historical links to Transatlantic African chattel enslavement, to acknowledge that aspect of their history, and work with the RJAF to craft a statement on reparatory justice for Transatlantic African chattel enslavement, which states the Church’s position and which will subsequently lead to a more systematic way of effecting reparatory justice.

The Church rightly speaks about reconciliation, healing and repair. Those of you who are familiar with your Bibles will know that 2 Corinthians 5: 17 speaks about Jesus Christ’s reconciling work on the cross which reunites us to God and to our fellow brothers and sisters. The very same Bible also states that all human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and so their lives are of equal worth.

If British and Irish Christians are eager to effect healing, reconciliation and repair within the Church, they must engage with reparatory justice, because this matter is about truth and justice. Jesus famously said that the ‘Truth shall set you free’; what is more, Yahweh or the God of the Bible, is a God of justice. As such, Christians are encouraged to be truth and justice seekers, which means they need to engage with reparatory justice as part of the work to end racism and engender reconciliation.

So, my work is about taking the British and Irish churches on the reparatory justice journey. Some are walking with us on this; others are yet to start, but it’s journey that all should take.

You can find further information about the event on the Quakers in Britain website.