Speaking about church and slavery at the ‘scene of the crime’

Participants from everywhere

According to initiator and anthropologist Rose Mary Allen, it is crucial to hold this conversation precisely in the former colonies – the “scene of the crime” of Dutch slavery (Alex van Stipriaan) – bringing together researchers and church leaders from across the former Dutch colonial empire. Visitors came from everywhere: the Netherlands, the United States, Brazil, Jamaica, Canada, Suriname and, of course, the Dutch Caribbean islands Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St Eustatius, St Maarten and Saba. In addition to academic contributions, there was dance, theatre (as a means of fostering dialogue), a church service on Wednesday evening, and an excursion exploring Curaçao’s religious traditions on Friday.

Adjusting the historical narrative

While outside the tropical sun was shining and many Dutch tourists were snorkelling in the bright blue waters of Curaçao’s beaches, conference participants immersed themselves in roughly four themes: the role of the Bible and theology in slavery; the role of mission; the relationship between church and slavery and Afro-Surinamese and Afro-Caribbean religions and traditions (Winti, Montamentu, Brua); and the continuing impact of slavery and possible forms of repair in the present.

The lectures made clear that participants needed to adjust the dominant historical narrative about church and slavery in at least three ways. African sources and traditions played a significant role in the ways enslaved people interpreted and appropriated Christianity. The Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk may in some respects indeed be considered a missionary church. And public debate in the Netherlands contained more abolitionist voices than often assumed.

Striking statements

Among the speakers were many with extensive public-speaking experience, such as former politicians (ministers and island governors) and clergy. As a result, there was a rich harvest of striking, well-formulated statements, each of which invited deeper reflection. A selection:

• “While the church sought obedience, the people found meaning” (Bob Harms)
• “Physical slavery is like the sting of ants, spiritual slavery is like the sting of a scorpion” (Mildred Caprino)
• “Were the slaves Christianised or did the slaves Africanise Christianity?” (Armando Lampe)
• “We should not only produce, but also restore knowledge” (Stella van Rijn, rector magnificus, University of Curaçao)
• “They [churches that belonged to the colonial establishment, ed.] aligned themselves not with the cross, but with the whip” (Wycliffe Smith)

Next steps

In the closing session, participants reflected on how to bring the insights gained to a wider audience. Work will begin on a book presenting a selection of the lectures. In addition, with NWO funding, the University of Curaçao is launching a dialogue project on faith communities, slavery and colonialism. And there is the hope that the church leaders and journalists present will take the knowledge they acquired back to their communities. Dutch journalist Arie Kok, for example, wrote an exceptionally accessible series of blogs about the conference.

Only the beginning

A comment frequently heard in the closing session was that this conference is really only the beginning of the conversation about church and slavery in the Caribbean. The question is how we can continue this dialogue. What is crystal clear is the added value of holding such a conference in one of the former colonies of the Dutch colonial empire. It not only makes it far easier for local researchers and church leaders to attend, but being on site also makes the weight of the colonial past much more palpable. Perhaps, then, our final conference should not be held in Utrecht, but in Paramaribo, Cape Town or Jakarta?