The official day of Human Relations Day Sunday 2024 is January 14, 2024. All are encouraged to celebrate this Sunday on any Sunday throughout the year.
Human Relations Day is a denomination wide Special Sunday designed to celebrate and raise awareness to further the development of better human relations by involving congregations in community and youth outreach. A special offering taken the Sunday before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Gifts received for the offering build King’s vision of “the beloved community” through programs such as Community Developers and United Methodist Voluntary Services and Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs. Churches are encouraged to donate through their local churches or give online.
Last year, your generosity (through November 2023) delivered $273,514 towards these ministries:
- Fifty-seven percent of the funds received support community developer’s program that strive to build, maintain, promote and strengthen racial-ethnic minority congregations through local UMC congregations. Community developers engage depending on a community’s needs. Learn more about the program here.
- Thirty-three percent of the funds received support The United Methodist Voluntary Services (UMVS) that serves as a resource to congregations, volunteer-based groups, and programs that challenge unjust political, social, and economic systems which threaten the livelihoods of people. Learn more about the grants offered here.
- Ten percent of the funds received support rehabilitation programs. 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. Learn more about the grants offered here.
For more than half a century, United Methodists have observed this churchwide special Sunday in recognition of the message Jesus demonstrated during his life: all of God’s children are important.
One of the wonderful aspects of The United Methodist Church is that we can do so much more together than we ever could do on our own. Our gifts are part of building “the beloved community.”
Read stories about the impact you are making with your gifts.
Need more information about Human Relations Day?
Click here to find out about our rich and long history of generosity. Our hope is to inspire you to learn more about the work we accomplish together through the ministry we call connectional giving.
Pastor Kit resources are also available in French, Korean, and Spanish.
Want to learn about all of our United Methodist Special Sundays? Take a look here or at UMCGiving.