Love and Forgiveness in Governance: Exemplars: The Collegiate Church of New York

by Ernest Ogbozor

In 2009, the Collegiate Church of New York hosted a ceremony of reconciliation with the Lenape Native American communities. The ceremony, titled "Healing Turtle Island"[1] was organized by the Collegiate Church to recognize and renew relationships with the Lenape. The Lenape were the original inhabitants of what is today New York and Manhattan, their home on the North American continent known to European settlers as the New World and to the Lenape as Turtle Island. The Lenape people were displaced and dispersed by a Dutch company with roots from Dutch Reformed Church, presently known as the Collegiate Church of New York.

According to Erica Pearson and Owen Moritz of NY Daily News, it took the Collegiate Church over 400 years to apologize to the Lenape. However, in a reconciliation ceremony organized by the Collegiate Church, Rev. Robert Chase, speaking on behalf of the Collegiate Church, asked the Lenape for forgiveness. He said, "We consumed your resources, dehumanized your people and disregarded your culture...we express sorrow for our part in these actions."[2] It was a memorable event; Carmen McKosato Ketcher, a representative of the Lenape, responded, "I had to dig deep in my heart and ask, 'can I truly forgive?'...Yes, we forgive you. But don't forget, we are still alive and well."[3]

The Lenape or Delaware Indians lived in an area which many called Lenapehoking, which means, "Land of the Lenape." This land included what is now known as New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York State, northern Delaware and a small section of southeastern Connecticut.[4] Lenapehoking had many rivers, streams and lakes and was densely forested and rich in wildlife. Two related but distinct groups of Indians occupied Lenapehoking, and their dominant activities were hunting, fishing and trading.

Following the activities of Henry Hudson and other companies that operated in Lenapehoking in 1609, the Lenape were subjected to modernization that they were not used to. The Dutch company presently known as the Collegiate Church of New York was at the middle of the travails of the Lenape.[5] Church representative Sung Park noted that the reconciliation event between the Collegiate Church and the Lenape brought to public purview the deep impact of colonization, the deep wounds and scar on the Lenape people, whom were once connected, but now dispersed.[6]

However, after many years of silence, the Collegiate Church's bold step to recognize their role in the unfortunate history of the Lenape people is worth commending. This single act needs to be emulated by other colonies and their colonial masters as a way of renewing relationships. In fact, the Collegiate Church has made the commitment to carry this journey of healing beyond the one-day ceremony, and continues to work with the Lenape community four years later. The Collegiate Church of New York is a successful exemplar of an organization that is practicing love and forgiveness.

 

[1] "Healing Turtle Island." The Collegiate Churches of New York. 2012, accessed December 14, 2012. <http://www.collegiatechurch.org/?q=content/healing-turtle-island>.

[2] Pearson, Erica and Owen Moritz. "400 Years Later, Collegiate Church Apologizes to Lenape, a Native American Tribes." NY Daily News. November 27, 2009, accessed December 18, 2009. <http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/400-years-collegiate-church-apologizes-lenape-native-american-tribe-article-1.419530>.

[3] Ibid.

[4] "Welcome to Lenape Lifeways." Lenapes Lifeways. 2009, accessed December 14, 2012. <http://www.lenapelifeways.org/lenape1.htm>.

[5] "'An Acknowledgement, Forgiveness, and Healing': Building a New Future with Our Lenape Native American Communities." Intersections International. November 24, 2009, accessed December 18, 2012. <http://www.intersectionsinternational.org/blog/2009/11/24/acknowledgement-forgiveness-and-healing-building-new-future-with-our-lenape-native-a>.

[6] Ibid.