GCORR Board
GCORR Board Members, Bishop Lizzette Gabriel Montalvo (right of center), Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo (center) (GCORR Photo)
WASHINGTON–The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) convened its fall hybrid Board of Directors meeting from October 13-15, 2022, in Arlington VA. During the three-day meeting, 21 GCORR board members from across the globe gathered with staff to discuss board business, hear committee reports, receive briefings on programs and strategies from GCORR staff, and meet with United Methodist Church Caucus leaders to strengthen partnerships and discuss hope for the church.
Board members from the Central Conferences shared about their ministries and areas of concerns in their contexts. The GCORR Board listened and discussed how to best offer support. This important step helped build intercultural competency and facilitate learning about the contextual work of antiracism that must happen around the world.
Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group (IESDG) members and racial-ethnic caucuses of the UMC gathered and met as well, which offered a unique opportunity for board members and caucus leaders to discuss how to better partner with one another to advance the work of equity and antiracism in the church. The Caucuses of the UMC in attendance were: Metodista Asociados Representando la Causa Hispano Americana (MARCHA), Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR), Native American International Caucus (NAIC), and New Federation of Asian American United Methodist (NFAAUM).
Rev. Dr. Stephen Handy, Vice Chair of GCORR Board shares:
“We were grateful to engage and explore with the United Methodist Caucuses, the Inter-Ethnic Strategic Development Group (IESDG) during our recent board meeting. In our time together, we re-engaged our spiritual conversations on building a framework around issues of vital and strategic conversations, group collaboration, capacity building and relational equity within two communities that are focused on disrupting and dismantling racism in the church. These spiritual conversations of relational equity and collaboration will continue because we are in a season of urgency with realizing the emergence of the beloved community where diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential for the church’s future.”
Bishop Lizzette Gabriel Montalvo of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico was a distinguished guest of the board meeting. Bishop Montalvo is the first woman to be elected bishop in the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. Her presence and participation offered great value for the board as she shared about justice ministries happening in Puerto Rico and encouraged board members in their work of intercultural competency and equity in the church. The GCORR Board also welcomed its newest board member, the Rev. Nydia Rios Gabriel, representing Puerto Rico.
This year's meeting was especially significant as it coincided with the celebratory service installing Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo's as GCORR's General Secretary. Rev. Dr. Arroyo was celebrated and consecrated into his new role on October 14 at National United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. Rev. Dr. Arroyo is committed to leading GCORR in its work of antiracism and equity within The United Methodist Church.
Click here to view the worship video and bulletin.
Regarding the installation service, Rev. Dr. Arroyo says:
“We experienced what it looks and feels to be a multi-cultural, multi-textured, and multi-lingual church – a church that rejoices in our diversity and challenges us to move into the crossroads so that we can create space at the table. The service deeply encouraged and strengthened me to lead this agency to challenge and equip the church in the work of dismantling racial discrimination in all its forms.”
The board meeting concluded with a time of worship where prayers of intercession were shared with one another and board members took time to pray for each other and the ministry contexts to which they return.
The next GCORR board meeting will be held virtually on December 3, 2022.
Jeehye Kim Pak serves as senior director of communications and marketing for the General Commission on Religion and Race.