ARLINGTON, VA. — The growth of the United Methodist Church and a failure in addressing racism in the denomination are connected. So say members of the General Commission on Religion and Race, meeting at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel here in Arlington, Virginia, March 10-12, 2010. As the denomination released the latest statistics showing a continuing membership decline, board members of the General Commission on Religion and Race were discussing how racism continues to permeate the denomination, and is counterproductive to growing the church.
“The decline of the church can be set side by side against the demographics of the church,” said board member Coral Garner. A church that is 91 percent white in a country where non-whites are rapidly becoming the majority cannot expect to be productive. The church has not found a way to be more inclusive.”