London, England - The Church of England is likely to offer an apology for slavery next month, even though Anglican reformers such as William Wilberforce were instrumental in its abolition.
The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, is leading a debate on the issue at the General Synod because the bicentenary of the end of the trade is next year.
Two Synod members are leading calls for the Church to acknowledge its complicity.
If adopted, this would be the latest in a series of apologies by Church leaders for events ranging from the crusades to the export of hymns to Africa.
The Rev Simon Bessant, from the Blackburn diocese, will urge the Church to "confess its sin before God" by recognising its "active participation" in slavery and the damage done to those involved and their heirs.
The Church, or rather its missionary wing, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, owned the Codrington plantation on Barbados. Slaves had the word "Society" branded on their chests with a red-hot iron.
Mr Bessant said that when owners were paid compensation for releasing their slaves, the Bishop of Exeter was among those who received hundreds of pounds.
"We were in it up to our eyeballs," Mr Bessant said. "I realise that an apology is a difficult issue because it was a long time ago. But the Church of England was part of the problem and we should acknowledge that.
"It does make a difference when people say sorry, even if it is centuries after the events."
The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, from London diocese, will call on the Synod to offer "repentance and sorrow".
But another Synod member said: "I don't know what they hope to achieve. The people they should apologise to are long dead."
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, was criticised in November after saying that missionaries "sinned" by imposing Hymns Ancient and Modern on places such as Africa.