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The first two chapters of the Book of Genesis describe the
creative genius of God. The writers tell us that God created
heavens and earth and gave life to woman and man. Animals,
vegetation, and the entire universe were the product of God's
grace and work. The psalmist of Psalm 24 reaffirms the
relationship between all of God's creation and the divinity of
God.
Yet in spite of humanity's common legacy as God's descendants, we
have consistently established differences among God's children
because of their race. We have continuously engaged in verbal
exchanges and behavioral demonstrations that have rejected the
sacredness of all persons. The belief that one race is superior
to others has permeated our lives, thus creating the perception
of inferiority of some persons because of their skin color,
features, language, and their racial and ethnic heritage.
When this prejudicial and/or racist attitude is expressed in a
behavior that is focused specifically in the abuse, humiliation,
and defamation of persons because of their race or ethnicity, it
has become racial harassment.
Racial harassment is in reality an act of covert or overt racism.
The United Methodist Church, committed to the elimination of
racism, cannot tolerate this racist manifestation. Because of the
many definitions of racial harassment currently found in society
that are too general and even confusing, precise guidelines are
needed from the denomination that will enable local churches,
conferences, agencies, and church organizations to identify
conditions or for situations of racial harassment.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the General Conference of 1992
defines the following conditions as racial harassment:
1. abusive and/or derogatory language that in a subtle or overt
manner belittles, humiliates, impugns, or defames a person or a
group of persons based on racial and ethnic traits, heritage, and
characteristics;
2. a behavior (individual, group, or institutional) that abuses,
belittles, humiliates, defames, or demeans a person or a group of
persons based on racial and ethnic traits, heritage, and
characteristics; and
3. documentation, printed or visual, that abuses, humiliates,
defames, or demeans a person or groups of persons based on racial
and ethnic heritage and traits, heritage, and characteristics.
Be it further resolved, that The United Methodist Church and all
its agencies:
1. Encourage law-enforcement personnel to maintain accurate
records on hate crimes and to bring to justice the perpetrators
of such violence and intimidation;
2. Support hearings on hate crimes, particularly in those states
where statistics reveal an increase in the activity of the Ku
Klux Klan and other hate groups; and
3. Support congressional hearings when there are allegations of
government involvement or negligence exacerbating such violence.
ADOPTED 1992
From The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church--1996. Copyright ©1996 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.
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