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The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) is one of six general commissions of The United Methodist Church charged with addressing specific, focused areas of concern. Religion and Race was established in 1968 to challenge and help the denomination’s agencies, institutions, annual (regional) conferences and congregations to achieve full, equal participation of its racial and ethnic minority constituencies in the total life and mission of the Church. The Commission strives to accomplish this task through education and advocacy and by reviewing, monitoring and supporting The United Methodist Church’s efforts to ensure racial inclusiveness and foster racial justice and reconciliation.

Our office is located in The United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. The President of the Board of Directors is Bishop Linda Lee of the Wisconsin Episcopal Area. The Vice-President of the Board is Bishop Timothy Whitaker of the Florida Episcopal Area. Our General Secretary is Erin Hawkins.

The General Commission on Religion and Race works with United Methodists in five regional jurisdictions across the United States and with five racial/ethnic constituent groups (Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latino/a, Native American and White) to address their various concerns. Most of the 62 annual (regional) conferences in the United States also have conference commissions on Religion and Race with similar responsibilities, and they receive assistance in their work from the General Commission.

These are some of the ways that the GCORR can be of service to you:

• Provide consultation and training to your annual conference cabinet, leadership team, committees, districts, clusters of local churches, or other groups on pertinent topics, including:
  
  • Racial diversity, inclusiveness and Affirmative Action Cross-racial appointments
  • Dismantling racism Multicultural leadership development and intercultural ministries
  • Sharing church facilities interculturally
  • Ministry in racially changing communities.
    
• Help your conference, district or local churches develop Affirmative Action and racial inclusiveness policies and plans.
• Assess your annual conference for racial/ethnic inclusiveness and empowerment, and provide recommendations to develop and achieve goals in these areas.
• Provide assistance to your United Methodist-related college, university, seminary or theological school in understanding and planning for racial/ethnic diversity.

Read about the roles and functions of GCORR

Watch: Journey to Inclusiveness: 40 Years of the General Commission on Religion and Race (2008)

Our Vision

The General Commission on Religion and Race envisions a fully inclusive United Methodist Church, that is accountable and proactive in addressing racism, prejudice and divisiveness; where leadership, relationships and ministries are racially and culturally inclusive; and where all members strive, as disciples of Jesus Christ, to build God’s beloved community throughout the church and the world.

Our Mission

Following the example of Jesus Christ, the General Commission on Religion and Race is leading The United Methodist Church to eradicate the sins of racism, prejudice and divisiveness throughout the church and the world by healing and empowering people, and transforming institutions to create inclusive, multicultural relationships and ministries.

The primary purpose of the General Commission on Religion and Race shall be to challenge and equip* the general agencies, institutions, and connectional structures of The United Methodist Church to a full and equal participation of the racial and ethnic constituency in the total life and mission of the Church through teaching and advocacy, and by reviewing and monitoring the practices of the entire Church so as to further ensure racial inclusiveness as we make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. (The 2004 Book of Discipline, ¶ 2002)

[* Italicized phrases added by the 2008 General Conference.]

Note: The General Commission on Religion and Race is amendable to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, which meets, legislates and determines the organization and functions of the church every four years. Between sessions of the General Conference, the commission is accountable to the churchwide Connectional Table, to which it reports and interprets its activities, and through which it cooperates with other agencies to fulfill its legislated responsibilities and the mission of the church.

Goals

Goal 1:  Dismantle global racism.

Goal 2: Engage the church’s white constituency in efforts to eradicate racism. 

Goal 3: Develop and support inclusive, multicultural leadership

Goal 4: Promote human dignity, compassion and hospitality through civil and human rights advocacy.

A message from the General Secretary, Erin Hawkins

"The United Methodist Church has done a tremendous job in fulfilling God’s call for justice and inclusiveness. However, there is still much work to be done. Racism continues to be the Church’s unfinished agenda."
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