Your gifts on Human Relations Day help at-risk youth and youth offenders?
10% of your gifts on Human Relations Day helps support the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program and is administered through the General Board of Church and Society. These programs work to strengthen youth empowerment programs that provide positive avenues for youth participation in their communities through the churches, mentoring programs, and boys/girls clubs. The Social Principles of the UMC calls for special attention to the rights of children and youth. From these perspectives we are concerned that in many states, children are arrested and incarcerated for truancy, incorrigibility, stubborn altercations with parents, and other conduct which would not be criminal if performed by an adult. Such punitive policies serve to criminalize many youth-especially in poor communities and communities of color. As an alternative, we encourage greater use of supportive and restorative services for parents and children in their home settings through this program.
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.
