Why is the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) endorsing this campaign?

GCORR’s connection to the Drop the I-Word Campaign is to urge United Methodists to monitor the i-word’s use by our congregations and community media by providing tools to change the conversation on immigration. The Drop the I-Word Campaign is particularly well-suited in forwarding the General Commission on Religion and Race mission to move the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships.

What is this campaign about? What do you hope to accomplish?

This is a campaign to eliminate inflammatory words that lead to acts of hate and injustice against immigrant people. It is a campaign about words. GCORR hopes to diminish the level of hate-filled rhetoric that has become synonymous with the immigration debate. It is an act of inviting deeper relationships with those who can feel devalued and unworthy of entering our worship services on Sunday morning because of the words in our media and our churches.

Is GCORR endorsing this campaign on behalf of the entire United Methodist Church?

Only the General Conference can speak on behalf of the entire United Methodist Church. GCORR is speaking out against language which is demeaning and dehumanizing of particular people in our communities. This campaign is asking United Methodists to reaffirm our belief that all people are of sacred worth. It’s about proclaiming that no child of God is “illegal.”

Is this a campaign directed at making it acceptable to enter the United States outside of the defined
process?

The Drop the I-Word Campaign is specifically about language and terminology. GCORR believes that it is important to delineate between a criminal act and a person.

Isn’t the term “illegal” accurate? People are entering the country “illegally”. Why is this being challenged and why is GCORR getting involved?

Actually, the i-word is used as a generalization to label people who are out of status due to a variety of circumstances. For example, many people:

• Are affected by natural disasters and/or other reasons beyond their control.
• Are brought to the country against their will.
• Are brought by employers and often exploited for cheap labor.
• Fall out of status and overstay their visas for a variety of reasons.
• Risk being killed in their country of origin.
• Are forced by economics and/or politics to risk everything simply to provide for their families.

This language scapegoats individual immigrants for problems that are largely systemic. GCORR is involved because as people of faith this language divides and dehumanizes communities and is used to discriminate against immigrants and people of color.

Why is it racist to use the term “illegal” in describing “illegal” workers and “illegal” immigrants?

Using the i-word creates an environment of hate by exploiting racial fear. The United Methodist Church clearly stands with people on the margins and stands against using hate-filled rhetoric and language to describe any of God’s children. As people of faith, as United Methodists we are united in our affirmation of “the worth of all humanity and value of interrelationship in all of God’s creation.”  (¶ 124, the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2008.)

Use of the i-word does not reflect United Methodist values of dignity and the sacred worth of God’s creation.

Use of the i-word affects attitudes toward immigrants and non-immigrants alike, most often toward people of African, Asian, Central American and Mexican descent. The discriminatory message is not explicit, but hidden, or racially coded. In addition, the i-word is used to pit communities of color against one another. For example, blaming undocumented people for a lack of jobs in the African American community promotes prejudice and neglects to take into account historical realities about the lack of investment in local economies and public school systems. The use of the i-word also impacts the way children and young people feel about themselves and their place in the world. It promotes hate in children that internalize the message that it’s okay to dehumanize people.

If you’re not going to use the term “illegal,” what word do you suggest?

GCORR would invite the use of the term “undocumented” when referring to people who are currently out of immigration status.

Frequently Asked Questions specific to the United Methodist Community:

This is a legislative issue. Isn’t that the work of the General Board of Church and Society? Why is GCORR positioning itself to promote this campaign?

GCORR welcomes the partnership of others in the United Methodist connection at every level of the church to join in the efforts to Drop the I-Word. Core to the mandates and disciplinary responsibilities of GCORR is to work towards the eradication of racism and challenges those within our church to dismantle racism in the church and world. 

What part of the General Commission on Religion and Race’s mandate as an UMC agency does your work with this campaign fulfill?

The mandates and disciplinary responsibilities of GCORR include to work towards the eradication of racism and challenge those within our church to dismantle racism in the church and world (¶ 2001, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2008.)

GCORR is committed to moving the church from racism to relationships and naming when policies and languages are inherently racist. Using the i-word does not reflect United Methodist values of dignity and the sacred worth of God’s creation.

Have any United Methodist funds helped to fund this campaign?

No GCORR funds were paid to be a part of this campaign. GCORR is endorsing this campaign because it relates directly to its mandate as an agency of The United Methodist Church. GCORR is charged with “Challenging and equipping…The United Methodist Church to ensure racial inclusiveness as we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” GCORR sees this campaign as an opportunity to help the People called Methodists to speak passionately and eloquently in defense of sisters and brothers who are part of our parish – the world.

What about Church and State? Isn’t GCORR crossing the line in endorsing the Drop the I-Word Campaign?  

This campaign is about not using a term to describe people. The i-word is dehumanizing and inflammatory. Using the i-word leads to stereotyping, discrimination and violence toward immigrants and people of color and is a gross categorization of people.

Why did GCORR connect specifically to the Applied Research Center (ARC) campaign?

The Applied Research Center, a racial justice think tank, provided an opportunity to partner with an organization on a cause uniquely suited to GCORR. This campaign is about how language is used to relate to each other. This is what makes it distinct from other campaigns which deal with the more legislative and political issues being developed by other agencies of the church.

ARC’s national outreach offers an opportunity to connect the United Methodist Church to new audiences.

Drop the I-Word: Take the Pledge  |  A World Without the I-Word  |  How to Get Involved 
Drop the I-Word Resources  |  Frequently Asked Questions  |  Media Center