This week in Christian history: Jesuits killed in Va., pope canonizes saint, black UMC caucus formed

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, January 31, 2021

United Methodist African American caucus formed — February 6, 1968

A communion service is held at the 'Uniting Conference' in Dallas, Texas, in 1968. The conference resulted in The United Methodist Church's creation when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church agreed to merge. — A communion service is held at the "Uniting Conference" in Dallas, Texas, in 1968. The conference resulted in The United Methodist Church's creation when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church agreed to merge. | (Screenshot: Vimeo/James J. Rollins-Silverman)

This week marks the anniversary of when the United Methodist Church’s African American caucus was formed at a meeting of black Methodists in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Known as the Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Inc., the body was formed in response to the creation of the United Methodist Church later that year and the dissolution of the segregated, predominantly African American Central Jurisdiction of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

“The charge of BMCR, titled ‘Findings of the Black Methodists for Church Renewal’ was submitted to the General Conference later that 1968 February. A central component of this document was a section titled, ‘The Black Paper,’” explained the caucus website.

“In this powerful section, the BMCR confessed their filings as Black Methodists and defined a new direction for themselves. To this day they have continued to define and refine directions for themselves and this denomination that have brought respect, growth, and renewed commitment to God and God’s purpose for The United Methodist Church.”