United Methodist Support Grows for Anti-Racism Efforts

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UPDATED June 10, 2020

As the second week dawned of protests against the police killing of George Floyd, more United Methodists also came forward with pledges to work toward dismantling racism in the United States and the United Methodist Church.

Following are excerpts and links to statements and resources.

UM Men Day of Prayer

In response to the national crises of the coronavirus pandemic and racism in police killings, the United Methodist Men of the Northeastern Jurisdiction have organized a National Day of Prayer for Saturday, June 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT via Zoom. See details.

Black Methodists Issue Call to Action

Black Methodists for Church Renewal, the unofficial caucus of African American United Methodists has issued a call to action to work with "any and all who fight for equity in economy of politics and pocketbooks." Read the full statement. 

Iowa Annual Conference

A Statement on Racism and Nonviolence from Bishop Laurie Haller and the Appointive Cabinet:

Amid our nation’s deep grief over the loss of so many American lives from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing that another fatal virus of systemic racism is taking away precious lives and human dignity. George Floyd’s outcry, “I can’t breathe,” at his last moment, haunts the whole American public. His senseless death puts us in trauma and moral injury because it reveals deeply rooted racial bigotries in the history of our country. It denies who we are as fellow human beings of sacred worth, and it disavows our Christian values of love and grace for all. However, we have seen so many people across the nation awakened and mobilized to make a difference for the future of our country. We must and will do better.

... We, the Appointive Cabinet, renounce all forms of systemic racism as sin detrimental to humanity. We reaffirm our baptismal commitment to resist the evil, injustice, and oppression that racism presents. We also call on the Iowa Conference to join together to “affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons” and to speak out against racism and transform our communities and churches. Martin Luther King, Jr., proclaimed that “Justice too long delayed is justice denied” (“Letter from Birmingham Jail”). We cannot breathe without justice and peace which is the oxygen for the wellbeing of our society. This is what God requires from us: “to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). 

Let us take a moment to acknowledge profound pain, suffering, and wounds in the hearts of those marginalized people of color across our communities. Especially, we stand in solidarity with the family of George Floyd and many other black lives who were senselessly sacrificed at the hands of white privilege. Here are some actionable items:

  1. Reach out to people of color in your congregations and communities to listen to their stories and grow in solidarity with them.
  2. Contact local officials to advocate for those who have no voice.
  3. Stand with those who protest injustice and racial inequality peacefully and without violence.
  4. Do not participate in or perpetuate the physical violence or the verbal violence of extremists who seek to divide, hate, or lie.

General Board of Church and Society Offers Resources

Subsequent to its May 21 webinar on racism and COVID-19, the United Methodist social action agency listed the following resources for study and discussion in local congregations:

Statements from United Methodist Leaders

The following list of anti-racism statements was compiled by Resource UMC. It has been edited to remove duplicates of articles posted elsewhere on United Methodist Insight.

Black Methodists for Church Renewal, A Call to Action

Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, North Georgia Conference: A call to repentance and pledge from the bishop and cabinet (June 9, 2020)

The United Methodist Council of Bishops: United Methodist Bishops: Act now to end racism, white supremacy (June 8, 2020)

Bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction: A pledge of solidarity to repent of racism (June 8, 2020)

Bishops of the Southeastern Jurisdiction: A pastoral letter to United Methodists of the Southeastern Jurisdiction (June 5, 2020)

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry: A Statement of Prayer and Solidarity (June 5, 2020)

The United Methodist Council of Bishops: "COB supports Minnesota area bishop in call for Christians to fight pandemic of racism" (May 30, 2020)

Bishop Frank J. Beard, Illinois Great Rivers Conference: “It is the job of every Christian to serve as conduits of grace, mercy, and love…”

Bishop Frank J. Beard: Simple strategic steps for Christians seeking to do something significant

Bishop Kenneth Carter, Florida Conference: A Spiritual Exercise for Dismantling Racism

Bishop Leonard Fairley, Kentucky Conference: “We must not dishonor the memories of these souls by practicing the spirit of an eye for eye and a tooth for tooth.”

Bishop Robert Farr, Missouri Conference: The need to be antiracist

Bishop Grant Hagiya, California-Pacific Conference: “Like all evil, we must bring racism clearly into the light.”

Bishop Laurie Haller, Iowa Conference: Statement on Protests in Des Moines

Erin Hawkins and the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary, General Board of Church and Society: “How long, O Lord, how long" 

Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, Louisiana Conference: Thoughts on the sin of racism

Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, South Carolina Conference: “Unfortunately, the good works of the many are too often overshadowed by the malicious action of the few.”

Bishop Scott Jones, Texas Conference: “The problem is historic, pervasive, systemic racism."

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Wisconsin Conference: “When justice is truly blind, people can begin to feel safe.”

Bishop Sharma Lewis, Virginia Conference: A call for action against systemic racism

Bishop William McAlilly, Tennessee and Memphis Conferences: The Pandemic of Racism

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, Western Pennsylvania Conference: “How long, Lord”  

Bishop James G. Nunn, Oklahoma Conference: Racism has no place in the Church of Jesus Christ

Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Minnesota Conference: Giving breath and voice to cries for justice 

Bishop Gregory Palmer, West Ohio Conference: “Looking away perpetuates avoidance.”

Bishop John Schol, Greater New Jersey Conference: A Call to Action

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, West Virginia Conference: “I groan with the Spirit of God and all of creation at this moment.”

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, North Alabama Conference: “We speak both with our actions and words.”

The Rev. Cynthia A. Wilson, executive director, Discipleship Ministries, "It is enough"

United Methodist Women: Black Lives Matter to God and Black Lives Matter to United Methodist Women

Church World Service: CWS Stands with Black Communities and Peaceful Protesters

National Council of Churches: Floyd murder by police officer is an outrage

World Council of Churches: Churches amplify urgent calls to address violent racism in US