REV. C. VERNON MASON'S GROUNDBREAKING COURSE ON SLAVERY AND

The purpose of this course was not to argue whether reparations are owed for slavery and the colossal damage it left in its wake; the purpose was to look at the why and the how, and to seek solutions.

As can be seen through the list of required texts and recommendations for further reading - which included both James Melvin Washington's Conversations with God and Randall Robinson's The Debt - the course approached the subject in a very broad-based manner, not only theologically but historically, sociologically, politically and economically. Yet, it remained at the core of religious studies throughout. As the course description states, "Reckoning and repairing are concepts that are profoundly theological in nature, and are deeply implicated in any Christian understanding of reconciliation and redemption. One of the assumptions that will under-gird our work is that, where there is historic injustice, the Gospel requires reparations."

When they first put forth this course, Mason thought that 10 or 12 people might take it. However, about 40 students signed up, clearly showing how thirsty people are to prepare themselves on this subject.

And the far-reaching effects will be enormous. Mason stated, "These are persons who, through their teaching, preaching, and counseling will be influencing thousands upon thousands of parishioners over the next several years. What we're trying to do is to ground them in this issue that is so vital to our community."

Mason firmly believes that for reparations to succeed, the Black church must play a pivotal role. In one class they discussed how important the church has always been to movements in Black communities. "If reparations is to be advocated in the manner in which it should be," he said, "we have to integrate the church with the legal, political and economic strategies. And we certainly must have this centered in our communities throughout the country by having church leaders who are prepared to guide our people in that regard."

Along with fieldtrips to such events as The Maafa Suite at St. Paul Community Baptist Church and Costly Grace: Race and Reparations at Union Theological Seminary, the course featured many excellent guest lecturers. Dr. Obery Hendricks from Princeton Seminary lectured on Jesus, the Bible and Slavery. He used Luke, Chapter 4, beginning at Verse 16, which tells of Jesus reading from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah. Said Mason, "Dr. Hendricks explained that in this, his very first sermon, Jesus basically lays out what the essence of the ministry is. It is for us to be activists - for us to 'bring good news to the poor,' to 'proclaim relief to the captives,' to 'let the oppressed go free.' This is the biblical warrant in terms of slavery and reparations."

About his own feelings conducting the course, Mason said, "To be able to be a part of a teaching team here at New York Theological Seminary that's preparing ministers to be leaders and advocates on this issue really is a transformative experience. For the students and the professors - everyone engaged in this process - the learning curve is just through the roof!"

But then, formulating a course on reparations seems like a natural progression for Rev. C. Vernon Mason. He was called to the ministry in September of 1995, and since his ordination in 1999, he's been teaching at NYTS and working with its Youth Intervention Project, now called Youth Turn. As its Director, you might say he's been working all along to repair some of the long-term ravages of slavery as the organization attempts to support urban youth by leveraging church, family, community, youth-service organizations, school and the criminal justice system to promote social change. Through everything, he's never stopped being a social activist.