Equipping the Church for Relevancy and Relationships in a Global Community

Rationale

Through greater clarity of purpose and ministry, GCORR must move beyond being a "monitoring agency" to one that resources congregations globally toward greater 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. 

Action

Amend ¶ 2002 and ¶ 2008

¶ 2002.Purpose— The primary purpose of the General Commission on Religion and Race shall be to challenge, lead and equip the people of The United Methodist Church to be and become the intentionally diverse body of Christ affirmed in Scripture and reflected in the global community. Responding to a growing awareness of the impact of privilege and power in the global community, the Commission shall mobilize individuals to live out the Wesleyan ideals of personal and social holiness. The General Commission on Religion and Race exists to lead the Church in personal and systemic transformation. Through equipping, holding accountable and partnering with all of the connectional structures of The United Methodist Church, the Commission will further racial equity, justice and the making of prophetic disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

¶ 2008. Responsibilities—The general commission will assume general Church responsibility for such matters as:

1. Advocating for visible and prophetic leadership at every level of the Global Church and mobilizing all people for action in the Church and in the world around issues of racial justice and inclusion, so that access to power and resources along with the gifts and graces of historically marginalized people can be used to bring about God’s reign. 

2. Ensuring racial equity, justice and inclusion on matters such as but not limited to: resolving racially and culturally based disputes and provide accountability in creating and enacting policies, programs and processes so that every level of the Global Church is more effective in ministry to increasingly diverse communities.

3. Conducting research and analysis for the purpose of engaging lay and clergy leadership in the complex social cultural realities facing congregations and conferences globally thereby deepening the relationships necessary to fulfill the mission of the United Methodist Church in a diverse world. 

4. Provide training, resources and consultation at all levels of the Global Church in order to:

• Increase culturally competent leadership.
• Expand vital and relevant local church ministry. 
• Challenge white privilege and promote anti-racism efforts. 
• Further racial/ethnic/tribal justice, equity and reconciliation. 

So that members of the Church become self-aware, learn to value and accept cultural differences and to become agents of change in the Church and world. 

5. Identifying and responding to salient denominational matters such as culturally competent leadership development, cross-racial/cross-cultural and multicultural ministry, renewal of ethnic ministry, global racism, ethnocentrism, and tribalism in order for the Church to more effectively move its mission forward in a diverse and global society.

6. Administering CORR (Commission on Religion and Race) Action Fund. The CORR (Commission on Religion and Race) Action Fund is established by the General Conference of The United Methodist Church for the empowerment of diversity, inclusion and racial justice work within and outside the Church. The fund is available through grants to congregations comprised of racial and ethnic persons, community agencies, and other groups for the purposes established by the General Conference. The Fund shall be administered by the General Commission on Religion and Race on behalf of The United Methodist Church. The General Commission shall be responsible for developing guidelines and policies regarding grants, and for evaluation of projects receiving support.