Reparations

Skyline Community Church

Reparations Fund: A Commitment to Repair, Restore, and Rebuild

In January 2023, Skyline Community Church, United Church of Christ (UCC), in Oakland, California, voted to take an active step toward reparations—responding to the enduring injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples and African American communities in our region.

This commitment is rooted in our faith.

We hear the call of the prophets:

  • “You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.” — Isaiah 58:12
  • “If I have cheated anybody… I will pay back four times the amount.” — Luke 19:8
  • “Through love become servants to one another.” — Galatians 5:13

Guided by these teachings, we understand reparations not as charity, but as faithful action—an act of justice, accountability, and restoration.

Responding to a Broader Movement

Our work is part of a larger call across faith communities and public institutions:

  • In 2020, the Justice and Witness Team of the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC called congregations to address the legacies of colonialism and genocide against Indigenous peoples.
  • The United Church of Christ has called congregations nationwide to engage in Reparatory Justice.
  • Federal efforts, including H.R. 40, seek to study and develop reparations proposals for African Americans.
  • The State of California and Alameda County have both taken steps toward reparative policies for Black residents.
  • Influential voices, such as Ta-Nehisi Coates in The Case for Reparations, have helped shape the national conversation.

Together, these movements affirm that repair is both necessary and possible.

From Commitment to Action

In June 2024, after careful study, prayer, and discernment, Skyline Community Church members voted to begin distributing funds from our Reparations Fund.

Our first recipients reflect our commitment to both Indigenous sovereignty and Black economic justice:

  • Sogorea Te’ Land Trust
    An Indigenous-led organization working to return land to Indigenous stewardship and restore cultural practices.
    https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/

 

An Ongoing Journey

We understand this work is not complete. Reparations is not a single act, but a continuing commitment—to truth-telling, relationship, and repair.

We move forward with humility and hope, seeking to be, in the words of Isaiah, repairers of the breach.