Responsibilities
The functions of the committee are twofold, advocacy and monitoring.
Through advocacy, the committee continually evaluates shifting social trends
in church and society and provides advice and counsel to the General Assembly
and General Assembly Council in response to their request or on its own initiative.
The chairperson is a corresponding member of the General Assembly and the General
Assembly Council.
The committee also monitors the implementation of programs
and policies on racial justice and racial ethnic issues. These responsibilities
are fulfilled in consultation with other agencies, including Advocacy Committee
for Women's Concerns (ACWC), the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy
(ACSWP) and the National Caucuses and Councils representing people of color and
new immigrants.
In order to effectively advocate and monitor, ACREC also:
- Reports directly to General Assembly Council and the General Assembly,
where it participates with voice, but not vote.
- Meets three times annually.
- Provides an orientation session for commissioners
to General Assembly.
- Participates in the preparation of policy statements, resolutions,
recommendations, reports to the General Assembly, and advice and counsel memoranda
on issues of interest and concern to people of color.
- May respond to particular
issues at the request of the General Assembly, the General Assembly Council,
or on it's own initiative.
- Works with the Stated Clerk, the Moderator of the General
Assembly, and the Executive Director of the General Assembly Council to provide
information and assistance as they fulfill their responsibilities to communicate
and interpret General Assembly policies on issues that impact people of color.
- Assists
the Committee on Social Witness Policy to maintain an up-to-date and accurate
compilation of General Assembly policy on racial justice concerns and provide
information to the church as requested.
- Works with the Advocacy Committee for
Women's Concerns to help the church maintain a strong prophetic witness for social
justice, especially in issues pertinent to women.
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