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Ethnic Commission

ethnic commission

Purpose: The Ethnic Commission exists to serve as a point of discussion, reflection, and recommendation on the multicultural directions and strategies of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Composition: The Ethnic Commission is chaired by the president of the Covenant. Additional members include the chairs of each ethnic association, the executive minister of church growth and evangelism, and the director of compassion, mercy and justice.

Accomplishments: The Ethnic Commission has been an important forum for frank discussion on multicultural issues in the Covenant. As such, it is an important resource, especially for the president. It has fostered increased understanding between ethnic constituencies and the Covenant, and also between ethnic constituencies. The commission originated, and gave impetus to, the Covenant’s two-year theme on ethnic diversity.

Recently, the Ethnic Commission created the “fivefold test,” which measures the Covenant’s progress toward becoming truly multicultural. The Commission was also the driving force behind the groundbreaking Ethnic Round Table held in February 2004, at which ECC administrators and ECC ethnic leaders gave recommendations in each area of the fivefold test. And the commission is charged with monitoring the Covenant’s continuing progress in the implementation of those recommendations.