Whether, and how, a church ought to repent for a historical wrong

Abstract

This article proposes a framework for churches that are discerning whether, and how, to publicly repent or apologize for a particular historical wrong. Biblical resources from both testaments, recent developments in theology, reflection on instances of ecclesial repentance, and multidisciplinary work on apologies suggest how penitent churches may hear what the Spirit is saying to them. An act of repentance by a church entails confession of sin, public acknowledgment, commitment to a future, and public witness. Churches are challenged to engage in repentance to the extent that they resist seeking to control the process and attend to the particulars of repair and renewal.