Submitted to the Board of Ordained Ministry of the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, January 1984, as part of the requirements for Deacon/Probationary status.

B. The Practice of Ministry

2. Are you willing to relate yourself to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, or social status?

I am fully committed to relating to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, or social status. The foundation of my theological understanding is rooted in the principle of harmony, which cannot exist apart from an embrace of diversity. My faith journey began with an experience of humility, as I reflected on the mystery of the incarnation—God becoming human within the limits of time and space. This humility calls me to see every person as created in the image of God (Imago Dei) and to treat each one with deep respect and dignity.

I believe that others are not only reflections of Jesus Christ but also sacred opportunities through which I can glimpse the Kingdom of God. We are all God’s children, members of one divine family. Racism, which asserts the superiority of one race over another, contradicts both harmony and humility, and thus stands in direct opposition to the Gospel. As stated in the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church (The Book of Discipline, 1980, para. 72; A), “Racism plagues and cripples our growth in Christ, inasmuch as it is antithetical to the Gospel itself.” Therefore, I reject all forms of racism and commit myself to building relationships that reflect God’s inclusive love.