Bishops Introduce ‘Dismantling Racism’ Initiative

United Methodists Urged to Anti-Racism Social Action

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United Methodist bishops have called the 12-million-member worldwide denomination to join in the spirit of the times by working to overcome racism in America and the world.

In an 11-minute video, five U.S. bishops, all garbed in purple clergy attire, announced the start of a spiritual and social-action “journey,” “Dismantling Racism: Pressing On to Freedom.” The initiative aims to engage United Methodists in the current movement against racism sparked by the recent deaths of Black Americans, especially George Floyd of Minneapolis.

The multi-level, multi-agency initiative seeks to unite faith with social action, so that the current anti-racism movement will produce not just words, but concrete results, said Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (Louisiana Area), president of the Council of Bishops, in the video’s introduction. The initiative will run from June 19, 2020 through the 2021 General Conference slated for Aug. 29 -Sept. 7, 2021.

Joining Bishop Harvey on the video were Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi (Pittsburgh, Pa., Area); Bishop Thomas Bickerton (New York Area) and two former Council of Bishops presidents, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer (Ohio West Area) and Bishop Bruce P. Ough (Dakotas-Minnesota Area), resident bishop of Minneapolis where Mr. Floyd was killed.

The speakers appeared to have been selected for some racial diversity, with two Black bishops (Moore-Koikoi and Palmer); two white male bishops (Bickerton and Ough); and one Latina bishop (Harvey). However, the video also proved to be a witness to the racial and geographic disparities in The United Methodist Church because no bishop was included among the speakers from the Southeastern Jurisdiction (historically a U.S. hotbed of racism) or any international regions known as Central Conferences.

Asking viewers, “Can you see it? Can you hear it?” Bishop Harvey asserted that the unrest since Mr. Floyd’s death manifests the sentiment, “enough is enough!”

“We must see that ‘no-knock’ warrants and a knee on the neck become part of our past,” said Bishop Harvey. She referred to the bungled “no-knock” home raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky, and the police killing of Mr. Floyd, captured on a bystander’s now widely circulated phone recording.

Consistently the bishops stressed that “Dismantling Racism” intends for United Methodists to engage in anti-racist actions rather than merely studying the issue or crafting statements as in the past.

“We must unleash the same uprising in the church that’s happening in our society,” said Bishop Moore-Koikoi on the video. “We can’t be about business-as-usual.”

Among other comments:

  • Bishop Ough, whose denunciation of George Floyd’s death has been endorsed by the full Council of Bishops, asserted that it’s time for white people of faith to lift up the “Black Lives Matter” banner together with people of all races.
  • Bishop Palmer explained that the Council chose June 19, 2020 because of its significance as the Black celebration known as Juneteenth. The observance marks the date in 1865 when news of the end of slavery finally reached slaves in Texas. He, too, stressed the call to action against racism, because “without works, our faith is dead.” (James 2:26, paraphrased).
  • Bishop Bickerton listed the United Methodist agencies that have joined the Council of Bishops in organizing the initiative: the General Commission on Religion and Race, Discipleship Ministries, United Methodist Communications and United Methodist Women. He said the church leaders urge United Methodists to conduct “conversations, worship and movement” to combat racism.

In closing, Bishop Harvey returned to the initiative’s theme of faith propelling action against racism.

“It’s because of our deep, unwavering love of neighbor that we want to cause a sea change in our culture,” Bishop Harvey said. “We want this to be a movement from pulpits to pews out into the world, to transform it forever.”

A page titled “End Racism” has been set up on the denomination’s official website, UMC.org, to post details on the “Dismantling Racism” initiative. The site currently includes references to anti-racism stances in the Book of Discipline and links to resources grouped under the campaign’s strategies: Pray, Connect, Show Up and Act.

Next up in the initiative will be “Dismantling Racism: A Service of Lament,” an online worship service scheduled at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 24. According to the web page, “United Methodists around the world will gather here and on Facebook to pray and lament for the racism in our midst. We will also hear God's call to join in the work of dismantling racism and pressing on to freedom for all.”

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.