The bishops of The United Methodist Church call on all United Methodists to act now by using our voices, pens, feet and hearts to end racism.
Praying for Change: Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism by Derek Weber
While the headlines may have receded, the sin of racism continues to be seen and felt on both individual and systemic levels. Dismantling racism is not a short-term task but a lifelong moving forward to perfection in love—to use founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley’s words. Therefore, Discipleship Ministries and other agencies and bodies of The United Methodist Church will continue to provide resources and guidance on how to become anti-racist individuals and churches.
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“Expanding the Table” – Award-Winning Podcast on Practicing Anti-Racism
Video podcast series from the General Commission on Religion and Race. Series guests focus on how individual Christians and church-based entities can and should engage the work of racial justice-making and anti-racism. https://www.r2hub.org/library/podcast
April 2021: Response to the Derek Chauvin Verdict from Bishop Hagiya
“Like most of you, I have been following the Derek Chauvin trial with deep concern and sadness. It seemed very apparent to me that George Floyd did not have to die, and Derek Chauvin needed to be held accountable”….Read full statement
Bishops call for dismantling systematic racism in aftermath of George Floyd verdict
The Council of Bishops stands together with all justice-loving people around the world in prayerfully bearing witness to the jury’s decision that convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd. Read full statement
United Methodist leaders condemn racism against Asians
On March 16, 2021 eight people were killed and one person wounded by a white gunman carrying out attacks on three Atlanta-area spas. Among the deceased were six women of Asian descent. Hate crimes and attacks against Asian-Americans have been on the rise in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic began, yet these attacks often go overlooked or underreported in the media. United Methodists leaders, including bishops, pastors and general agency leaders, have condemned attacks on persons of Asian descent as part the larger campaign to Dismantle Racism. See their statements
Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence (AALMP)
The Asian American Language Ministry Plan with the General Board of Global Ministries and the National Federation of Asian American United Methodists issued a statement jointly condemning the rise of anti-Asian American violence in the United States of America…Read Full article
Justice-seeking, righteousness-proclaiming, life-creating God, we open our hearts and minds to you. Send your Holy Spirit to remind us of all you have taught us. Remove the blinders from our eyes. Renew our conviction to do all we can to work with you, alongside our sisters and brothers, in shaping your New Creation. Guide our feet into your ways of justice and peace, and into your vision of shalom. Fill us, use us, Lord, as your emissaries of love and hope. Amen.
– Rev. Patricia Farris
We recognize racism as a sin.
We commit to challenging unjust systems of power and access.
We will work for equal and equitable opportunities in employment and promotion, education and training; in voting, access to public accommodations, and housing; to credit, loans, venture capital, and insurance; to positions of leadership and power in all elements of our life together; and to full participation in the Church and society.
PAST EVENTS:
Lawson – Black Lives Matter a religious movement
By Kathy L. Gilbert
July 23, 2020 | UM News
As a young man, the Rev. James Lawson was chosen by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to train young civil rights peacemakers to fight racism with love and respect — to step into the fray and say, “I follow Jesus.”
Lawson: Black Lives Matter shows need for change
By Kathy L. Gilbert
Aug. 11, 2016 | CLINTON, Tenn. (UMNS)
A great social awakening that started with the civil rights movement is gaining strength today with the Black Lives Matter movement, said the Rev. James Lawson, a United Methodist pastor who the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.”
United Methodists Set to Unveil “Dismantling Racism” Initiative
June 16, 2020 – Nashville, Tennessee: United Methodist Church leaders will launch a plan of action to galvanize church members and others to actively stand against racism in the wake of the death of George Floyd and protests across the U.S.
The “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom” initiative is a multi-level effort throughout the church to initiate a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and promote collective action to work toward racial justice. The church-wide effort will kick off on June 19, 2020, to coincide with Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. An announcement from members of the United Methodist Council of Bishops will be broadcast at 11:00 am CT on UMC.org/EndRacism and Facebook.
Participating in the event will be Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of the Louisiana Episcopal Area, president of the Council of Bishops and the first Hispanic woman to hold that post, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Pittsburgh Episcopal Area, Bishop Bruce Ough of the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area, Bishop Gregory Palmer of the Ohio West Episcopal Area, and Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Episcopal Area.
United Methodist Bishops: Act now to end racism and white supremacy
June 8, 2020 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the aftermath of police killings of unarmed Black people, the bishops of The United Methodist Church today called on all United Methodists to act now by using their voices, pens, feet and hearts to end racism.
In a statement released by Council of Bishops President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, the bishops are urging every United Methodist to reclaim their baptismal vows to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
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[READ THE FULL STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS]
Bishop’s statement on the death of George Floyd
May 27, 2020 – Bishop Bruce R. Ough issued the following statement following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 in the custody of Minneapolis police after an officer was shown pinning him down while he struggled to breathe.
There is more than one pandemic ravaging Minnesota and our country at this time. In addition to fighting COVID-19, we are besieged by a pandemic of racism, white supremacy, and white on black or brown violence.
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