The Times-Picayune reports that Bishop Charles Jenkins flew to South Africa last week to talk with church leaders and others there about that country’s experience with its Truth and Reconciliation Commission, its role in bringing some racial healing after the fall of apartheid, and asking whether New Orleans might benefits from a similar process.
Last year, Jenkins brought Bishop Johannes Seoka of Pretoria, with his wife, Timeya, to New Orleans to publicly discuss the commission’s work for an audience of invited clergy of many faiths.
In addition, Jenkins has privately sounded out religious and other leaders on whether a similar process might work in New Orleans, but has received a cool response…
Jenkins, who will retire at the end of this year, said he hopes to take six months off next year.
But he said that if his successor permits, he hopes to pursue racial reconciliation in some context, perhaps with youths.
“They don’t have the historical perspective we have. But they are not as afraid of it, either,” he said.
Read the rest here.
Ecumenical News Service has a story here.