Call to CORR{age} A campaign for racial equity General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships

General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships What is CORR{age}? cour·age Pronunciation: \kər-ij, kə-rij\ Function: noun mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

Biblical Foundation for CORR{age} Joshua 1:5-9 (New International Version, ©2010) 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships Why the campaign? What the numbers say. Why now?

U.S. Population Compared to The United Methodist Church Source: U.S. Census Bureau Projection (August 2008) Source: GCFA

Percent Distribution of U.S. Resident Population by Age and Ethnic Origin Status for 2007 Source: Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America’s Future. Blackwell, Kwoh & Pastor, 2010.

Changing American Demographics, Source: Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America’s Future. Blackwell, Kwoh & Pastor, 2010.

What is Inclusiveness? General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships in·clu·sive \in-ˈklü-siv, -ziv\ 1: comprehending stated limits or extremes 2: broad in orientation or scope: covering or intended to cover all items, costs, or services

General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships Inclusiveness Counts! Campaign History In 2003, the General Commission on Religion and Race celebrated its 35 th anniversary. During this season, GCORR recognized its history and renewed its commitment to fighting racism within the church and society. In April 2003, the "Inclusiveness Counts" Campaign initiative was launched to urge annual conferences to be mindful of the importance of electing racially and ethnically diverse delegations to the 2004 General and Jurisdictional Conferences of the United Methodist Church. In April 2007, the campaign encouraged annual conferences to “Vote for Diversity” as they elected delegates to the 2008 General and Jurisdictional conferences. It also encouraged those delegates to consider goals of justice and inclusiveness for racial/ethnic members when they vote for legislation and for new bishops

General Conference 2004General Conference 2008 Central Conference Delegates US Racial/Ethnic Delegates Total Delegates % Central Conf Delegates18%28% % US Racial/Ethnic Delegates22% (27% of US)17% (24% of US) General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships

Inclusiveness relates to abstracts (numbers, groups, quotas) not persons and relationships. A Call to CORR{age} moves beyond representation to relationships. Limitations of Inclusiveness General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships

In keeping with GCORR’s mission to “empower people and transform institutions to create inclusive, multicultural relationships and ministries” and “to lead the church and its members to Live CORR{ageously}!”, GCORR’s inclusiveness campaign for 2012 General Conference will be themed: A Call to CORR{age}.

A Call to CORR{age} Through a Call to CORR{age}, with faith in God, experienced through Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we aim to move beyond the sinful politics of racism and racial representation toward racial equity and multicultural cooperation, collaboration and witness.

A Call to CORR{age} is… A Call to: Individuals Congregations CORR Communities Annual Conferences General Agencies Caucus Groups Council of Bishops World

Phases of the Campaign General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships Annual Conference General Conference Jurisdictional Conference

Annual Conference Goals 1.) To increase the number of racial ethnic delegates to GC 2012 by 20%. 2.) To publicly express the value of multi-ethnic and multi-racial leadership at the local church, annual conference and General Conference levels. 3. )To support and resource r/e caucus members/leaders, CORR leaders/members in creating partnerships with other groups w/in the annual conference and strengthening advocacy efforts through monitoring and framing of racial equity concerns. General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships

General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships Resource Packets for CORR Chairs will include: A press release announcing the launch and significance of the campaign A proposed plan of action for conference commissions on Religion of Race A copy of the letter that will be sent to every Bishop, DCM, and previous first elected delegates asking them to give witness to the call for racial equity before the election of General Conference delegates Sample letters to be sent to Conference News Editors and/or Communications Directors Promotional items for the campaign, including brochures, talking points, flyers, buttons, fans, bookmarks, and bands.

Questions? General Commission on Religion and Race Moving the United Methodist Church from Racism to Relationships