Racial Justice Resources

In The United Methodist Church, we:

• proclaim the value of each person as a unique child of God and commits itself to the healing and wholeness of all persons.
• recognize that the sin of racism has been destructive to its unity throughout its history. Racism continues to cause painful division and marginalization.
• shall confront and seek to eliminate racism, whether in organizations or in individuals, in every facet of its life and in society at large.
• shall work collaboratively with others to address concerns that threaten the cause of racial justice at all times and in all places.

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016, ¶5

Quick Links:

• Dismantling Racism 
• Bestselling Books On Racism
• Recognizing White Privilege (Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility)
• Implicit Bias: What We Don’t Think We Think: Online Course | Workbook
• Ways United Methodists Can Stand Against Racism
• Reaching In, Reaching Up, Reaching Out: The Spiritual Work of Overcoming Racism (The Upper Room)

Resources from the General Commission on Race and Religion (GCORR)

• 25 Traits of the Beloved Community

• Overt/Covert Racism

• You Are Here: First Steps for White Christians on Ending Race & Racism

• Deconstructing White Privilege: A Discussion Guide

• Equity vs. Equality: Understanding the Differences

• Implicit Bias: What We Don’t Think We Think: Online Course | Workbook

• Learning from Strangers, Best Practices for Cross-Racial and Cross-Cultural Ministry in The United Methodist Church. Researched and written by Derrick G. Hodge.

• Racial Justice Conversations Guide

• Vital Conversations

Multiculturalism Resource Guide

The following are resources the Conference Multiculturalism Task Force has put together. We are thankful for their work.

Multiculturalism Resource Guide 

Click here to download the full Resource Guide.

Click below for a breakdown of the Resource Guide:

• Book Recommendations
• Film Recommendations
• Liturgical Resources
• Social Principles and Social Creed
• Reflection
• Website Links
• What Can We Do​

Authentic Conversations Videos from the Multiculturalism Task Force

• Session 1: Introduction and Serving 

• Session 2: Worshiping Inclusively

• Session 3: Welcoming and Training Intentionally 

• Session 4: Bridging the Blended Church Community

• Session 5: Connecting the Cross-Racial-Cultural Church Community

• Session 6: Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Awareness

Book Recommendations from the Multiculturalism Task Force

Click here to see list

Film Recommendations from the Multiculturalism Task Force

Click here to see list

Children & Youth Resources

• Talking Race with Youth
• Tools for Processing the Protests With Teens
• 5 Tips for Addressing Racism with Children
• 50 Best Multiculturalism Books for Children
• 31 Books for Ages 3-12 to Support Conversations on Race
• Cokesbury Kids Deep Blue: Faith & Culture - Antiracism 

Other Resources

• Ted Talks to Help Understand Racism
• Just Mercy (FREE in June). Based on the life and work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy is being shown at no cost for the month of June to those who are interested in learning more about the systemic racism that plagues our society.
• Resource UMC: Topics on diversity and inclusiveness

From The Heart of South Georgia

• Bringing Down The Walls of Hostility (Bishop R. Lawson Bryan)
• Dismantling Racism, Standing Together (Rev. Earnestine Campbell)
• Injustice Anywhere (Rev. Lynn Meadows-White)
• Statement On the Killing of Ahmaud Arbery (GCORR & GBCS)
• A Podcast on Race & Healing (Bishop James Swanson) 
• The Risk The White Church Must Take To Address Racism (Rev. Eric Mayle)
• Moving Beyond Protests To Stamp Out Racism (UMNS Article featuring Rev. Michael Culbreth)
• Two Savannah UM Churches Join To Combat Racism (Advocate Article)​

Resources from the General Board of Church and Society

• Connecting Faith and Justice
• Creating Change Together
• Saving Mothers' Lives
• Faith and Facts Card - Peacebuilding
• Faith and Facts Card - Indigenous Peoples
• Faith and Facts Card -- Immigration to the US
• Faith and Facts Card - Criminal Justice

Books from the "Sacred Worth Books" section on the GBCS website: 
Africa is Not a Country, A weed is A Flower, All the Colors of the Earth, As Good as Anybody, MLK..., Bright Eyes-Brown Skin, Can You Say Peace, Child of Civil Rights Movement, Colors Come from God, Just Like Me, I like Myself, Indian Shoes, Let My People Go..., Mahalia Jackson, Martin Luther King/Mahalia Jackson..., Walking with Queens and Kings, My People, Nelson Mandela..., Shades of Black, Separate Is Never Equal, Sojourner's Truth-Step Stomp Stride, The Colors of Us, We All Sing with the Same Voice, We Shall Overcome-the Story of Song, Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells...

Additional Resources

For multiethnic communication, listen first
As The United Methodist Church gears up a campaign for dismantling racism, it's helpful to hear from denominational experts on how to improve multiethnic communication. Aileen Jimenez and Philip J. Brooks gathered tips about listening, language choices and more. Read story