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In all, the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) Board of Directors approved 14 pieces of legislation that will be forwarded to the 2012 General Conference. Below you will find a summary of each piece of legislation--including new and re-adopted resolutions as well as proposed changes to the Book of Discipline--along with links to the complete legislation.
Disciplinary Legislation Submitted
The Mandates and Purpose of the General Commission on Religion and Race
Amending Discipline ¶ 2000 and 2008. Through clarity of purpose and ministry, GCORR seeks to resource congregations globally towards relevance and vitality in diverse communities while supporting connectional leaders and structures to develop and employ cultural competence and equity in process, policy and decision making. The proposed mandate changes advocate for visible and prophetic leadership at every level of the Global Church, mobilizing all people for action in the Church and in the world around issues of racial justice, ensuring racial equity and further support conducting research and analysis for the purpose of engaging lay and clergy leadership in the complex social cultural realities facing congregations and conferences globally. The new language also clarifies the Commission’s role in resolving racially and culturally based disputes and allows GCORR to respond to salient denominational matters in order for the Church to more effectively move its mission forward in a diverse and global society.
The Rights of Racial Ethnic Persons
Adding to ¶ 162. While significant advancements in areas of racial justice have occurred within the Church and society, systemic barriers still exist. Structural racism is embedded in policies and practices which contribute to inequitable racial outcomes, legitimize racial disparities, and undermine progress toward racial equity. GCORR calls the Church to move beyond symbolic expressions and representative models that do not challenge unjust systems of power and access.
GCORR Board Membership
Adapting ¶ 2003. In response to the current budget realities and a desire to capture expertise and passion among General Commission on Religion and Race board members, this legislation reduces the size of the board and provides flexibility in the selection process of board members.
Culture and Identity
Expanding ¶161 and inserting a new language that expands race and ethnicity beyond monolithic categories. Human diversity is the signature of God. While our primary identity is as children of God, multiple realities, including culture, form our identity. Everyone is a part of many cultural identity groups which shape values, perception, and behavior.
The Role of Annual Conference Commissions on Religion and Race
Clarifying and Changing Discipline ¶ 643.1-5. Annual and Central Conference Commissions on Religion and Race can be vital partners with conference structures and local churches as they move towards greater relevance and vitality in diverse communities and employ cultural competency and racial equity in leadership, ministry, process, policy and decision making.
Eliminating Institutional Discrimination
Amend ¶ 811.1. This legislation establishes GCORR and General Commission on the Status and Role of Women as partners with General Council on Finance and Administration in determining fair and just recommendations for withholding funds from agencies and Church- related institutions that are non-compliant in creating and/or implementing their committee on institutional discrimination policies. It further ensures that policies of compliance will be submitted and evaluated through an equitable process.
GCORR General Secretary Election Cycle
Amend: ¶ 2006. This changes the annual election of the general secretary to a quadrennial election of the general secretary and aligns the electoral process of the GCORR general secretary with ¶ 713. It also provides for greater continuity of key leadership over the quadrennial program implementation and for contemporary formats of acceptable balloting.
Resolutions Submitted
Biracial and Multiracial Inclusive Language
Affirms and expands the Church’s language by offering racial identification options (biracial/multiracial) that are not limiting but embracing of persons with more than one racial or ethnic background.
Cultural Competency Training and Leadership Development
Recommends all conference leadership to participate in cultural competency training to ensure the effective and full participation of all committee members.
Drop the I-Word
Clarifies how the term “illegal” dehumanizes and divides communities. This resolution encourages United Methodists to expand awareness of the negative impacts of calling people “illegals” and instead use terms such as undocumented or non-citizen.
Regarding Native American Culture and Traditions as Sacred
Re-affirms the sacredness of Native peoples, native cultures, and gifts that native peoples share with the church and the world.
Native American Religious Freedom Act
Affirming of Native American brothers and sisters, this resolution calls for the continued support of the rights to religious freedom for Native Americans.
Racial Profiling in the U.S.A.
Expands prior General Conference actions to end racial profiling. This resolution affirms educating constituents about racial profiling, calls for supporting legislation seeking to end racial profiling, and establishes networks of cooperation with criminal justice and law enforcements agencies.
Support for Multicultural and Global Churches
Affirms the continual development and strengthening of racial/ethnic congregations and congregations that are culturally aware, modeling racial equity and becoming truly multicultural congregations. It calls for partnership with agencies and theological schools in developing resources and curriculums that incorporate cross-racial and cross-cultural competencies.
Hawkins' View: A blog from GCORR's General Secretary Erin Hawkins
General Conference 2012 Highlights
General Conference 2012 at gc2012.umc.org
The 2008 Book of Discipline
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