Who We Are
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.
Partnerships:
GCORR partners with the Disability Ministries Committee
The Disability Ministries Committee leads the United Methodist Church to include people with disabilities in worship, leadership and ministry through advocacy, education and empowerment. Please visit www.umcdmc.org to learn more.
Our Vision
Our Vision is that the worldwide Church, at all levels, reflects and values the diversity of God’s creation.
This Vision supports the Biblical teachings of Christ, the purpose of GCORR and mission of The UMC. To accomplish our Vision, GCORR is committed to developing new, culturally competent leaders in the Church, which will lead to new ideas and innovations to help the Church adapt to changing times.
Our Mission
The Mission of GCORR shall be to challenge, lead, and equip the people of The UMC to become interculturally competent, ensure institutional equity and facilitate vital conversations about religion, race, and culture.[1]
Our Work
The Work of GCORR is to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion; develop interculturally competent leaders; and facilitate authentic community.
Our Promise
Our Promise is to provide practical resources for and support to leaders throughout the Church to enable them to engage and embrace the cultural diversity present in our world, communities, and congregations.
Our Core Values
The Core Values of GCORR are based on the Biblical imperative of right relationships with God and one another--relationships of Love, Grace, Equity, Justice, Respect, and Mutual Accountability.