The United Methodist Church proclaims that from God’s goodness and love, God created all persons as God’s unique and beloved children. Racism opposes God’s law, goodness and love and diminishes the image of God in each person. Fueled by white privilege, white supremacy and colonialism, the sin of racism has been a destructive scourge on global society and throughout the history of The United Methodist Church. It continues to destroy our communities, harm persons, obstruct unity and undermine God’s work in this world. Racism must be eradicated. Therefore, The United Methodist Church commits to confronting and eliminating all forms of racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege and white supremacy, in every facet of its life and in society at large.
Text of Article V - Racial Justice as approved at General Conference held in 2024
Overview & Historical Significance
Article V of the Book of Discipline serves as a pivotal framework for the United Methodist Church's commitment to addressing and eliminating racism in all its forms. Recent proposed changes to Article V, at the postponed 2020/2024 General Conference session in April/May 2024, have strengthened this commitment by explicitly recognizing the church's role in combating racism, racial inequity, colonialism, white privilege, and white supremacy both within the denomination and in broader society. These changes reflect a critical shift in the church’s acknowledgment of and response to deeply entrenched racial injustice.
Key Points of Significance
1. Explicit Acknowledgment of Racism
The inclusion of terms like "white supremacy," "white privilege," and "colonialism" represents a significant departure from previous language that may have been more vague or indirect. By explicitly naming these issues, the church confronts its own history and complicity in systemic injustices, marking a pivotal moment in its moral and ethical evolution.
2. Commitment to Active Anti-Racism
Declaring that the United Methodist Church must live as an actively anti-racist institution challenges the church to move beyond passive acknowledgment of racism. This language signifies a commitment to proactive measures, calling for tangible actions that dismantle racist structures within the church and society, thereby fostering a culture of accountability.
3. Response to Historical Context
These changes arise in the context of broader societal movements advocating for racial justice, including the civil rights movement and more recent protests against systemic racism. By aligning itself with these movements, the United Methodist Church positions itself as a relevant and responsive body that seeks to address systemic racism rooted in historical injustices of the Church.
4. Emphasis on Unity and Healing
The language promotes a vision of The UMC as a community that actively works to root out discrimination and oppression. This approach emphasizes the need for unity and healing within the church, encouraging members to engage in dialogue and reconciliation, thus fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment.
5. Moral Leadership
By incorporating this language into its Constitution, The UMC positions itself as a leader in the fight against racism within religious and social contexts. This sets a precedent for other denominations and organizations, encouraging a broader commitment to justice and equity in faith communities.
6. Legacy of Reform and Justice
These proposed changes connect to the long history of reform within the United Methodist Church, reflecting a legacy of addressing social issues. By explicitly confronting racism, the church reaffirms its mission to promote justice and equity, continuing the work of past leaders and movements within the denomination.
Conclusion
The commitment reflected in the changes in Article V represents a significant step forward for the United Methodist Church in its pursuit of racial justice. The proposed changes hold significant historical importance as they explicitly acknowledge systemic racism and commit The United Methodist Church to actively combat it. These changes challenge the Church to claim its prophetic witness as a redemptive and transformative force in both its community and the wider society, dedicated to the principles of equity, dignity, and respect for all individuals.
Originally published by Religion and Race. Republished with permission by ResourceUMC.