Commission on Religion and Race
Chairperson: Revs. Susan Worrell & Alicia Julia-Stanley
Report submitted by: Rev. Susan Worrell
Email: rev.s.worrell@gmail.com
Phone: (484) 883-7628
Date submitted: 03/26/2019
Recent Events & Activities
CORR Meeting Dates – September 6, October 4, November 1, December 6, 2018, January 3, February 7, and March 7, 2019
October 23, 2018 – CORR Co-chair attended CR/CC Ministry Workshop with Bishop Johnson at Aldresgate UMC
CORR member represented the conference leadership at the Changing Racism 3-Day workshop October 26-28, 2018 @ Desmond Hotel
Both CORR Co-chairs attended the NEJ reCall Summit in Baltimore, MD, Oct. 26 & 27, 2018
November 1, 2018 – CR/CC Taskforce first met @ the Conference Office with Rev. Dr. Grace Pak, Director of Cross Racial./Cross Cultural Leadership at GCORR to begin planning and drafting a pilot program for CR/CC Ministry support in EPA
December 1, 2018 – hosted Emotional Intelligence workshop for conference wide engagement, presented by CORR member.
December 3, 2018 – CORR Co-chairs served as leadership team members for the Whites Confronting Racism program planning, application drafting, and implementation as part of the Sabbath Solidarity Project funded by GCORR and facilitated by Arch Street UMC. Meeting with program facilitator, Rev. Hynicka, Dr. Powell and CORR Co-Chairs held @ Conference Office.
December 30, 2018 – CORR Co-chair completed and submitted Bishop Johnson’s yearly report on progress and future plans for the NEJ Call to Action Resolution.
January 16, 2019 – CORR Co-chairs worked with Dr. Powell, Dr. Pak, Bishop Johnson and EPA Cabinet in conceiving plans for CR/CC Ministry support @ Conference Office
January 17, 2019 – Dr. Pak, Dr. Powell and CORR Co-chairs presented above work to entire CR/CC Taskforce for further work and input @ Conference Office.
January 21, 2019 – CORR arranged and sponsored MLK, Jr Speaker Event on the South District @ UMC of West Chester.
January to Present – CR/CC Taskforce and CORR Co-chairs continue to work with Dr. Pak, Dr. Powell and the cabinet in drafting, refining, editing, organizing, and implementing the CR/CC Ministry support pilot program.
February 23, 2019 – CORR Co-chairs facilitated a workshop for churches exploring Cross Racial/Cross-Cultural Ministry, hosted by DS Tracy Bass.
March 2, 2019 – Two CORR members facilitated Tools for Ministry workshop on Having Difficult Conversations about Race in your Congregation on the South District @ Palmer Seminary.
Upcoming Events & Activities
Scheduled CORR meeting dates – April 11, and May 2, 2019.
March 30, 2019 – Laity Consultation on CR/CC Ministry with Dr. Grace Pak to further explore best practices for successful CR/CC Ministry/Appointments @ St. Matthews – Valley Forge.
April 15, 2019 – Orientation for CR/CC Training & Resource Team members @ Conference Office
May 4, 2019 – Orientation for CR/CC Mentoring Team members @ Exton UMC, Exton, PA
May 6-8, 2019 – CR/CC Training & Resource Team training retreat @ St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem, PA
June 1, 2019 – CR/CC Ministry annual workshop facilitated by newly trained Training & Resource Team members with Dr. Pak @ Landsdale UMC
June 13-15 – CORR members, COSROW members, and Disability Ministry members will organize, craft and deliver reports on AC monitoring functions @ Oaks, PA
June 29, 2019 – Celebrating Our Cultures gathering & pot luck @ Camp Innabah for an afternoon of fun and fellowship
September 14, 2019 – Impact of Racism on People of Color led by Dr. R. Dandridge Collins – location TBD
Additional Information
Talks are on-going with the EPA Prison Ministry chair regarding a joint project focused on mass incarceration and racism in the criminal justice system, exploring the church’s call to respond.
Collaborations
Rev. Dr. Grace Pak of GCORR, Arch Street UMC & Sabbath Solidarity Project, Changing Racism 3-Day Workshop, Conference Communications, EPAUMC Cabinet, Bishop Johnson, Rev. Dr. Powell, Director of Connectional Ministries, EPA Prison Ministry