Religion and Race

Rev. Lessie Williams Speaks from the heart and Spirit

11/4/2009

By Joy Lowenthal

A spirit of unity  filled Faith United Methodist Church in Schenectady, N.Y., Sept. 27 when nearly 100 Methodists from the African-Episcopal, African-Episocpal Zion and United Methodist churches worshipped together.
 
Worship leader the Rev. Lessie Williams presented from her personal experience as well as biblical foundation a universal message of unity in diversity. 
 
The Duryee Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion choir from Schenectady, N.Y., brought worship participants to their feet, inspiring voices raised in praise to God for brining the diverse group together.
 
Williams said one of the meanings of fellowship was that there was more then one fellow (person) in the ship. She said that everyone is in the ship together, and the ship if “our loving God. With God’s help we can work together through tough times, and can come to reconciliation and forgiveness. Lessie shared when this help from beyond her has gotten her through."
 
The “coming together” worship was sponsored by the Troy Conference Comission on Religion and Race. Bishop Susan W. Hassinger attended and as well as guest from the Wyoming Annual Conference.
 
On Sept. 28, Williams spoke and sang at Winooski United Methodist Church, where she was welcomed by the Troy Conference CCORR Chair Mary (Bee) McCollum and Pastor Bonnie Hovermann.

 

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Troy Annual Conference:                                                                                               

2009 Annual Conference is June 10 - 13, in Saratoga Springs, NY

CORR-AGEOUS AWARD:  The Conference Commission on Religion and Race is sponsoring the first annual CORR-AGEOUS AWARD for Racial Justice.  This award is given to a person within our Annual Conference who best exemplifies a proactive stance addressing and working toward dismantling racism in the church and communities. This person works to develop unique and thought provoking strategies to combat racism.

CCORR members will submit a one page letter regarding the nominees.  (Next year this line will read:   Individuals and churches are invited to submit a one page letter regarding the nominees.)                                                                                                                                           

Goal 1:   Dismantle global racism.

Goal 2:    Develop and support inclusive, multicultural leadership.

Goal 3:    Work towards repairing damage caused by systemic racism.

Goal 4:     Promote human dignity, compassion and hospitality through civil and human rights advocay.

Mildred Mason was awarded the first annual CORR-AGEOUS AWARD for Racial Justice at the 2009 Troy Annual conference.

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May 2009:  Conference Commission on Religion and Race establishes guidelines for requests of funding assistance from the Commission.

The following guidelines are to be used when submitting a proposal for funding assistance:

A) Proposals must be submitted at least 30 days before funding is needed.

B)  Proposals should include the following:

           1.    A description of the program or project

           2.     Program/project goals and objectives

           3.     Demonstrate how the program/project will have an ongoing impact on

                    Conference/District/Local Church.

            4.     Attached budget including other funding assistance, monetary and/or in-kind.  

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The Troy Annual Conference Religion and Race Commission (CCORR) is a body that includes both concerned clergy and lay people of various ethnic, cultural origins and/or backgrounds, who are dedicated to bringing about racial and ethnic inclusiveness in all programs, events, and activities related to the Troy Conference and the United Methodist Church.

CCORR works under the umbrella of the General Commission on Religion and Race, guided by the United Methodist Discipline, Section XIV, Paragraphs 2002 through 2008. The commission's purpose is to ensure full and equal participation of racial and ethnic constituiency in the total life and mission of the church.

Bea McCullough, Chair, (802) 234-9864
Barbara Heise, Secretary (518) 355-7654 

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General Commission on Religion and Race  [GCORR]

The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) hosted a Spring 2009 CORR Chairs Gathering March 12-14, 2009 titled the Journey to Inclusiveness. Our CORR celebrate two members of our commission Mildred Mason (Chair) and Bee McCollum (co-Chair) who attended the gathering which was designed to give some handles on what and how we could lead our conference to dismantle racism and begin to work on inclusiveness.

The role of GCORR board members is to help our conference CORR to interpret and promote relevant needs, concerns, ministries and initiatives of our conference.

Workshops with the GCORR Board were: Communication to support and enhance racial justice and inclusiveness work, Monitoring Racial Justice and Inclusiveness, Conducting Racial Justice for Advocacy Campaigns and Using Assessments as an awareness-raising and planning tool for your racial justice and inclusiveness ministry.

General Conference:

Our Conference Commission on Religion and Race celebrate that three  members of our Commission were present at the 2008 General Conference as part of the Troy Conference Delegation.  Two served as monitors at the General Conference.  Mildred Mason (our Chair) was 1 of 14 representing Black Methodist for Church Renewal.  The monitoring was reported to and published by the Inter-Ethnic Racial Strategy Commission.  Rev. Marion Moore-Colgan was supported by the Native American Caucus and she was 1 of 9 who monitored for the General Conference on Religion and Race and the General Commission on Status and Role of Women.  The results of this monitoring were officially published in the Daily Christian Advocate. 

Troy Annual Conference:     2009 Annual Conference is June 10 - 13, in Saratoga Springs, NY

Our work continues... 

Healing the Wounds of Racism   --    Dismantling White Privilege

CCORR is devoted to Healing the Wounds of Racism. Toward this goal, CCORR continues to  co-sponsor retreats "Building Community in a Diverse and Changing World:  A Faithful Approach to Diversity and Race" led by Rev.Eric H. Law, an Episcopal priest in the diocese of Los Angeles, California, and founder of the Kaleidoscope Institute.  [ www.ladiocese.org/ki/ ] 

The General Commission on Religion and Race    

Black Methodists for Church Renewal

Native American Communications Office 

National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry   

Asian-American Language Ministry Study

Advancing United Methodist Ministries with Korean-Americans

National Plan for Ethnic/Racial Ministries: Moving Forward into the Future