Article V - Racial Justice
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
Translations
The Overview & Talking Points: These are now available in the following languages:
Downloadables
Understanding Article V: Overview & Historical Significance, Key Points of Significance, Talking Points, Implementation & Collaboration
Living Out Article V: Liturgy & Litany (including The Great Thanksgiving, Anti-Racism Litany, Affirmation of Faith)
Overview & Historical Significance
Key Points of 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.
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.
Video
Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo explains the purpose of Article V to address the past of The United Methodist Church as well as the potential to shape the Church’s future
Note: For closed captioning, first hit the “play” button to start the video. Next, (for desktop) hit the “CC” button (usually on the bottom right) to enable captions. Or, (for mobile) hit the “gear” button and then enable captions. What will display are automated captions by Youtube. The transcript is available below the video on this page.
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Siblings in Christ. The 2020/2024 General Conference approved the new language on Article V: Racial Justice. The General Commission on Religion and Race offered the changes as a transformative commitment to justice and equity that aligns with our faith in profound ways. Article V is about more than words; it represents a calling to see every person as created in God’s image and a stand against the sins of racism, white supremacy, and colonialism. These issues are not just societal challenges—they are spiritual issues that distort God’s image in humanity and contradict the core of Christian teaching. Article V reminds us that our faith in Jesus Christ compels us to actively work against these evils, recognizing that racism and colonialism harm individuals, communities, and the unity and mission of the church.
The importance of Article V goes beyond its immediate message. Historically, the church has not always taken a clear stance against racism and colonialism. The United Methodist Church has struggled with its own involvement in systemic racism, white supremacy, and colonialism, and this recognition is necessary for healing and accountability. By acknowledging the harm caused by these injustices and naming them as sin, Article V marks a critical step toward a more inclusive and reconciled future. Confronting this history allows us to be faithful to Christ’s call for repentance, healing, and transformation and enables us to build a foundation for future generations that is rooted in God’s justice and love for all people.
But Article V does more than reflect on the past—it challenges us to shift how we live out our faith today and into the future. This commitment urges us to dismantle systemic racism, build equity, and develop intercultural competence within our church at every level. It invites us to create open spaces for vital conversations where all voices are heard and valued. It calls us to do our own internal work, to examine our biases and privileges, and to foster a church culture of accountability, love, and compassion that truly reflects the teachings of Jesus.
Ultimately, Article V moves us toward a vision of the beloved community, a place where diversity is celebrated and every person is seen and valued as a blessed child of God. With this amendment, the United Methodist Church commits to actively confronting racism, seeking justice, and upholding the dignity of all. We are called to stand as a church that leads in racial justice—not only within our congregations but in society as a whole. A church that is anti-racist. Through Article V, we reaffirm our mission to embody God’s justice and peace in the world, to build stronger, more inclusive communities, and to live out our faith with integrity and love.
Let us embrace the vision of Article V as a transformative step forward. As we prepare to vote, may we commit ourselves to building a church that stands against racism and champions the worth and dignity of every person, creating a world that reflects God’s goodness, justice, and love.
