Your gifts on Human Relations Day help train over 125,000 volunteers
33% of The Human Relations Day offering is allocated for United Methodist Voluntary Programs administered by the General Board of Global Ministries. One of these programs is the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. The UMVIM network offers guidance, organization, and training for more than 125,000 volunteers serving with the poor; building churches, assisting in disaster response, community health, and leadership training each year.
ABOUT HUMAN RELATIONS DAY (HRD)
The United Methodist Church celebrates Human Relations Day to further the development of better human relations by involving congregations in community and youth outreach through Community Developers Programs, United Methodist Voluntary Services Programs, and Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs. It is celebrated on the Sunday before the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. This offering was originally established in 1972 to fund Self-Determination Projects, The Black Community Developers and the Police-Community Relations Program. In 1988, the offering was designated to support ministries of social justice and outreach to at-risk youth. Specific ministries include the Community Developers Program, United Methodist Voluntary Services Program and the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. The fund is administered by the General Board of Global Ministry and the General Board of Church and Society.