Manifesto

In 1968, the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) was formed to hold the newly formed United Methodist Church accountable in its commitment to reject the sin of racism in every aspect of the life of the church.

Today, when the forces of discrimination and oppression are once again ascendant, those dedicated to the work of justice look to GCORR to champion the possibility of a new unity arising from our divisions, and the fulfillment of God’s intention that we work and thrive together amidst forces that seek to tear us apart.

Now is the moment when we must claim our inherent right as human beings to love, justice, wholeness, and peace, and to affirm that all people share in this right as children of God. For our church truly to be a sanctuary, we must be utterly unshakable in our conviction that all people are equally worthy of belonging and love.

GCORR will not rest in its work of challenging and equipping the church to complete its unfinished agenda of dismantling racial discrimination. We continue to do this by championing diversity, equity and inclusion; developing interculturally competent leaders; and catalyzing authentic community.

While racism remains our primary focus, our perspective and partnerships reflect a broader context, which includes poverty, nationalism, tribal conflicts, gender discrimination, homophobia, disability and generational bias—because we know all forms of oppression are connected, and they cannot be dismantled in isolation.

GCORR’s work is vitally necessary to the evolution and relevance of the church in the 21st century and beyond. For the Beloved Community spoken of by Dr. Martin Luther King to arise from the painful chaos of this moment in our history, we must learn to build it anew on the rock of true equity.

And yet, the vision that guides us transcends The United Methodist Church. In solidarity with global movements for liberation and justice, we seek to make our tools and resources available as broadly as possible. GCORR works to realize the possibility of a world where every member of the human family can live, love, and express themselves in freedom and in peace.