Attend online UMC town hall on race, today at 1 PM
Leaders of The United Methodist Church invite all to attend a
denominational town hall
discussion on race and racism today, July 1, at 1 PM. Bishops of the UMC and social justice agencies invite all to a Town Hall at
www.UMC.org/EndRacism
July 1, at 1 PM. We’ll explore the true (and often suppressed) racial history of our nation and church.
The upcoming July 4th holiday has many of us in the United States thinking about our nation's history. Many of us are wrestling with how we can most faithfully understand and interpret the realities of this present moment, both for ourselves and for our congregations.
From pulpits and pews,
we pray and hope
for a yet-unrealized future where Black lives matter as much to our nation's decision-makers—and to each person of faith—as they do to our almighty God. In the midst of this vital work of reckoning with the present and reimagining the future, we extend to you an invitation to be like
the Sankofa bird
: to look back, even as we move forward.
Some questions to be addressed:
- Are we telling the story of our nation's history from the perspective of the lion or the lamb? How has a culture of white supremacy and settler colonialism distorted our understanding of our shared past? What are the truths we need to learn—and the lies we need to un-learn—about US history?
- What about our church ancestors? How and when have United Methodists furthered racist national projects and caused real harm? How and when have United Methodists shown up on the side of Jesus, justice and freedom for all peoples?
- How might a careful look into this past enable us to build a more gospel-grounded future together -- for the church, the country and the broader world?
This one-hour Town Hall will be moderated by General Secretary of the General Commission on Religion & Race Erin Hawkins with expert panelists Rev. Dr. Bobby McClain, Dr. Lisa Dellinger, Rev. Fred Day III, and Dr. Alison Greene to explore the history of the United States and the United Methodist Church, racial (in)justice and where God is calling us to go next.
