Racial Unity A Position Paper of the Free Methodist Church - USA — Page 2
The Free Methodist Church is founded on the principles and ideals of B.T. Roberts who departed from
the Methodist Episcopal Church with a conscience toward the poor. Roberts’ continued work led to
activism in the treatment of African slaves around the world and particularly in the United States. Roberts’
work as an abolitionist is the foundation of the Free Methodist Church. His 19th-century work continues
to teach us today in the 21st century.
As we move forward, the Free Methodist Church is committed to learning from our past, educating
ourselves in current issues, and actively working to create an environment that reflects the dignity and
worth of all humans.
We are therefore pledged to active concern whenever human beings are demeaned, abused,
depersonalized, enslaved or subjected to demonic forces in the world, whether by individuals or
institutions (Galatians 3:28; Mark 2:27; 1 Timothy 1:8–10). We are committed to give meaning and
significance to every person by God’s help. Remembering our tendency to be prejudicial, as Christians
we must grow in awareness of the rights and needs of others.
Racism represents a particularly egregious affront to the dignity and worth of persons and its presence
is manifest in the life, history, and institutions of all nations. Slavery and genocide are grievous stains,
warranting collective lament, repentance, and repair. Racial oppression in all its forms continues to
exact harm throughout the world, distorting the dignity of persons and God’s love for the great
multitude of all nations (Acts 17:26, Revelation 7:9). The Free Methodist Church was itself born out of
a desire to stand against the evil of slavery and we continue to recognize the sin of racism and oppose
it in all its forms.
(From Paragraph 3221 of the 2019 Book of Discipline)
Why is the work of racial equality important to the Free
Methodist Church?
The Free Methodist Church began with an explicit emphasis on freedom for slaves and the poor to be
recognized as equally valuable members and contributors to the church and society. However, missing
were voices from people of color and women at the founding leadership table. Today, we are a movement
desiring to represent all voices at every level of leadership. Representation offers a combination of diverse
myopic lenses to speak to the collective voice that includes the dignity and worth of all persons.
The Free Methodist Church values the freedom of all ethnicities to worship and live together in unity. As we
seek to achieve racial unity, it is important to understand its contrast, racial inequality, is a systemic device
that leads to racism.
William Manning Marable, a former Colombia University professor and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for
History, defines racism in the United States as “a system of ignorance, exploitation, and power used
to oppress African-Americans, Latinx, Asians, Pacific-Americans, Native Americans, and other people on
the basis of ethnicity, culture, mannerisms, and color.” This definition is important because it shifts away
from the unfortunate acts of individual racists and speaks to the institutionalized and systemic racism that
benefits some and denies all others.
June 2020 — pg. 13