Racial Equity Advocacy Committee

The 205th General Assembly (1993) approved the creation of the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee.

According to the Presbyterian Mission Agency Manual of Operations:

The Racial Equity Advocacy Committee shall have direct access to the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board. In accordance with the recommendation of the 220th General Assembly (2012), the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board shall meet at least once every two years with the elected leadership of the advocacy committees for strategic reflection and anticipation concerning racial ethnic concerns.

Access to the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board shall be in the form of policy statements, resolutions, study papers, racial involvement reports, a yearly narrative report, Advice and Counsel Memoranda, and other appropriate correspondence. Advice and Counsel Memoranda shall be developed in consultation with other advisory and advocacy committees as appropriate.

The committee shall submit its General Assembly report to the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board Executive Committee for review and possible comments by the Presbyterian Mission Agency (Presbyterian Mission Agency Manual of Operations Appendix 1F, I.B.3).

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 Presbyterian Mission Agency Board in response to their request or on its own initiative. The chairperson of REAC is a corresponding member of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Mission Council.

The committee also monitors the implementation of programs and policies on racial justice. These responsibilities are fulfilled in consultation with other agencies and committees, including the Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice, the Women of Color Joint Working Group, the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, and the National Caucuses and Councils representing people of color and new immigrants.

In order to effectively advocate and monitor, REAC:

• Reports directly to the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board 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, and 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 Presbyterian Mission Agency Board, or on its own initiative.
• Works with the Stated Clerk, the Moderator of the General Assembly and the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency 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 Advisory 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 and Gender Justice to help the church maintain a strong prophetic witness for social justice.

Partners

• Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy
• Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns
• General Assembly Nominating Committee
• Mission Responsibility Through Investment

Caucuses

• National Asian Presbyterian Council
• National Black Presbyterian Caucus
• National Hispanic/Latino Presbyterian Caucus
• National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus
• Native American Consulting Committee