April 27, 2023 | by Jeffrey Corey
Church and Society Board Members, Staff and Guests visit the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama
Last month, the Board of Directors of GBCS gathered in Montgomery Alabama for their first in-person meeting since 2019. Board president, Bishop Sally Dyck presided over a full 3-day agenda of GBCS business, worship sessions, work committee and task force meetings, and a board member visit to The Legacy Museum.
The 11,000-square-foot museum, which opened on April 26, 2018, was founded by Montgomery’s Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and contains more data on racial lynching than anywhere else in the U.S., as well as previously unseen information on the domestic slave trade. Displays provide a link from the past to current social justice issues such as mass incarceration of African Americans and police brutality.
The night before the board meeting, guests and board members celebrated Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe’s retirement of 48 years in ministry (including eight years as the GBCS General Secretary) during a special legacy ceremony. Toward the end of the celebration, Board Trustees Committee Chair Raúl Alegría publicly announced that the board approved a new GBCS Endowment Fund named after the Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe. The new GBCS fund will provide financial support for emerging leaders and advocates for justice.
Church and Society’s board approved 36 petitions to General Conference to readopt resolutions that would expire under the Book of Discipline’s eight-year rule (¶510.2a). The resolutions, which had been adopted by the 2016 General Conference but without action, would expire due to the delay in holding the 2020 General Conference.
The Book of Resolutions articulates the official policy statements and our ethical aspirations for United Methodists. The Book of Resolutions contains dozens of statements that relate to our Christian witness to the world.
Below are a few examples of resolutions categorized in three work areas for Advocating, Connecting and Educating.
3428: Our Call to End Gun Violence
Foundational resolution for UMC engagement on gun violence prevention and international small arms transfers.
4134: Rights of Farm Workers in the U. S.
A call to stand in solidarity with farm workers to change unjust conditions.
6129: The United Methodist Church and Peace
Foundational resolution for disarmament work, advocacy on budget priorities, multilateral engagement, economic justice initiatives, and peace education.
Click here for the full list of 36 petitions that were unanimously approved.
Click here to read more.