Anti-Racism and Equity Coalition Values
As stated in previous reporting, we believe in the Triune God, whose very nature is relational. We believe in God as Creator, who delights in diversity in every part of creation. We believe in Jesus Christ, who taught and healed through radically inclusive love. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who challenges and inspires God's people to create communities of equity. We all dream, have faults, and live in God's grace. Yet when we validate humanity, human dignity, and each person's imago Dei, we fulfill our call as people of God. Our charge as the Anti-Racism Equity Coalition is to animate the Conference to embody Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [DEI], and we define these terms as follows:
- Diversity is the variety of people and ideas within an organization.
- Equity ensures all people have fair access to opportunity, resources, and power to thrive, including eliminating systemic barriers and privileges.
- Inclusion is creating an environment in which all individuals are valued and connected.
We realize there is still much work to do in the Conference and local communities, and we invite God's Spirit to continue guiding us in these complex and nuanced discussions. We ask each leader and member of the Rio Texas Annual Conference to pray and support this work, foremost; avoid cynicism and the fear that our work will not lead to lasting change; and remember to live out these values:
- Faith - Centering our life in Jesus' message and the faith journey.
- Representation - Giving a voice to immigrants, Hispanics, families with economic hardship, African Americans, and women.
- Transparency - Sharing information about our everyday life freely and accessibly.
- Advocacy - Doing things differently than in the past, especially correcting patterns of unethical behavior.
- Integrity - Aligning actions and communications with our values.
Anti-Racism and Equity Coalition Work in 2025-2026
During 2025, the Anti-Racism and Equity Coalition met monthly with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [DEI] Consultant, Pam Benson Owens, for team capacity building and DEI engagement event planning. Pam has worked with the Anti-Racism and Equity Coalition's inception as called into being in 2021 by the Episcopal Office to address racism.
Three Divine Conversations gatherings were carried out, all hosted by the Rio Texas Conference United Women in Faith [UWF] during the following events: 1.) UWF Luncheon at Annual Conference 2025 in June; 190 persons attended, 2.) UWF Central District Meeting in September; 90 persons attended, and 3.) UWF Annual Meeting in November; 60 persons attended.
October 2025, Rev. James Amerson and Rev. Thomas Hankins attended the General Commission on Religion and Race “Facing the Future” conference, in Los Angeles, CA. The conference was a gathering of clergy appointed to serve in cross-cultural and cross-racial settings. Both pastors are serving in such settings. This prompts the genesis of formulating formal cross-cultural / cross-racial training processes for clergy and congregations.
Two shifts have occurred in the latter part of 2025.
- First, the Coalition is now connecting to the Uniting Peoples Vision Team [UPVT] where the work of Religion and Race is housed. The UPVT also holds the UMC Book of Discipline portfolios that address the “isms” within the church and communities.
- Second, the capacity building and teaching journey of the DEI Consultant ended January 2026. The Conference is grateful for the DEI expertise Pam Benson Owens provided in guiding the Anti-Racism and Equity Coalition's organizational, theological, and capacity-building development—helping cultivate a transformational shift across the Conference by deepening cultural awareness and competencies and by addressing needed systemic change and inequities.
The Coalition members now move into carrying this work forward as DEI facilitators, connectors, and coalition builders within the conference.
In December, the Coalition had a check-in conversation with the Bishop and Cabinet to share of their work and projected goals for 2026. January 2026, the BOOM Residence in Ministry class experienced a Embracing Differences workshop. Bethany UMC – Austin hosted a Divine Conversations dinner experience available to Bethany UMC members and the North District UMC community.
February 2026, the Coalition conducted a Strategic Planning session developing the following goals:
- Design and development of DIVINE CONVERSATIONS resource package
- Design and development of VIRTUAL FORUMS
- Developing and deploying EMBRACING DIFFERENCES learning and networking workshops
- CONFERENCE MAPPING: Develop a map of stakeholders, groups, and entities in the Rio Texas Conference to understand anti-racist and equity issues
- Develop a RESOURCE HUB and enhance current webpage at https://riotexas.org/anti-racism
March 2026, the Coalition and the RTC Bishop and Cabinet met and through mutual conversation, cultivated the following near to long-term goals:
Near Term:
- Monitoring process for Annual Conference - in collaboration with the General Commission on Religion and Race [GCORR] and General Commission on the Status and Role of Women [COSROW] representatives on the conference Uniting Peoples Vision Team.
- Connect with Office of Leadership Development, on tools and competencies to recommend to the Board of Ordained Ministry [BOOM] and for the Residence In Ministry [RIM] /Licensing school requirements.
- Connect on the emerging synergies with the conference's strategic priorities work of 1.) creating a culture of trust, 2.) centering discipleship, 3.) cultivating relationships for belonging and voice, and 4.) breaking down barriers and building bridges with our neighbors.
- Connect with the Conference Finance and Administrative Offices on possible models & best practices for data collection and sharing.
- The Anti-Racism and Equity Coalition will continue to develop deployable toolkits for Divine Conversation & Embracing our Differences.
Medium Term:
- Conversations among DSs/Cabinet - opportunities to give voice to work of antiracism (e.g., preaching themes, charge conference themes, District Strategy teamwork).
- Recommendation to BOOM for antiracism competencies / training requirements for RIM / Licensing school.
Longer Term:
- Exploration of conference response team model.
- Language practices that are truly bilingual rather than an accommodation (e.g., everyone receives translation and meetings are held fully integrated in Spanish & English) - possibility of a requirement of bilingualism for ordination.
- Model of data collection and sharing that increases accessibility and transparency and helps us to monitor our progress.
- Connecting to the work of the District Strategy Teams and the conference strategic priorities developments.