The Rev. James Richardson of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California has been appointed by Julia Ayala Harris, president of the House of Deputies, to the “Racial Truth-Telling, Reckoning and Reconciliation Committee” for the 81st General Convention. He was appointed as the assistant secretary of the committee. The committee will be responsible for hearing and voting on resolutions related to racial justice and associated topics.

He is the former priest-in-charge of the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa and the former Interim Dean of Trinity Cathedral where he is now serving as a priest associate.

Rev. Richardson is the author of the book, The Abolitionist’s Journal: The Memories of an American Antislavery Family, about his abolitionist ancestors and the founding of an historically Black college in Texas. He is also the author of Willie Brown: A Biography, about the former Speaker of the California Assembly and San Francisco mayor.