Justice & Equity Task Force
Unity with a Heartbeat of Holiness
“He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.”
– Proverbs 2:8-9 nkjv
Since 2020, there has been a heightened awareness of the painful reality that people of color are often treated in unthinkable and unjust ways. Rhetoric surrounding immigration grows increasingly dehumanizing and hostile in our society, even causing a rise in Asian hate crimes during and since the pandemic. This inequality and unrest isn’t bound to matters of race; stories of women being denied access to leadership positions—particularly within the church—paint a picture of an environment long overdue for bold action.
Our Mandate
And so it was this moment in which a motion to the General Assembly of the Church of God was born with this simple premise—can we study the Church of God to see if we are actually living out what we say we believe in both the areas of racial equality and the priesthood of all believers?
The 2021 General Assembly of the Church of God issued a resounding charge to seek out and clarify the “composition, beliefs, and practice of the Church of God in regard to racial justice and the equality of men and women.” To answer this charge, the Justice and Equity Task Force was formed.
Process & Findings
Over the course of two years, the Justice and Equity Task Force (“JET Force”) conducted a large survey, engaged in focus groups, utilized current minister data, and reviewed our credentialing process. What they discovered out of this work is documented in the report below, which was presented to the 2023 General Assembly.
Through data, infographics, and commentary, this report offers:
- New data revealing the opinions of our Church of God constituents about the role that race plays in our practice of unity.
- Information about the status of women in ministry and the challenges we face in living out our doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.
- Recommendations from the Justice and Equity Task Force on where we go from here.
These findings and recommendations are intended to guide our Movement toward visible and intentional fulfillment of the holiness and unity for which Jesus prayed. We invite a careful reading of this report. And we pray for our Church of God agencies, pastors, and congregations to have the wisdom and the courage to change.
READ THE REPORT
FAQS
Who is the Justice and Equity Task Force?
The volunteer Task Force is a broad cross-section of the Church of God with diversity in age, gender, race, ethnicity, occupation, region, etc. The task force members are:
Are we looking to change the theology of the Church of God Movement?
The justice and equity resolution’s focus on composition, beliefs, and practices gives us the opportunity to look at how we live out our theology, and is not about redefining our theology.
Who should contact if I have questions?
If you have any questions, please email unityteam@chog.org. Our volunteer team will review your email and follow up as we can. Thank you.
