Beginning with the establishment of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas by Absalom Jones in 1792 in the city of Philadelphia, through the appointment and election of more than 35 Black Bishops, there has always been a strong corps of Black leaders in the Episcopal Church. People like James Holly, Henry Delaney, Alexander Crummell, Mattie Hopkins, John Walker, Tollie Caution, Charles Lawrence, Deborah Harmon Hines and countless others have paved the way.

Organized in 1968 as the Union of Black Clergy and Laity, the Union is the proud inheritor of the work of these people and earlier organizations, the Convocation of Colored Clergy, the Conference of Church Workers Among Colored People, all dedicated to justice and the ministry of Blacks in the Episcopal Church. The name was later changed to the Union of Black Episcopalians.

The Union of Black Episcopalians fights racism by encouraging the involvement of Black people in the total life of the church — on every level and in every way — mission, stewardship, evangelism, education, leadership, governance and politics. The Union is committed to translating these words into Christian action for all Episcopalians and at all levels of the church.