Racial/ethnic panel wants to change terminology to 'emerging majorities' By John H. Adams The Layman Online Monday, May 10, 2004 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Advocacy Committee for Racial/Ethnic Concerns, a watchdog group that monitors the denomination's hiring patterns, wants to change its own name and the denomination's vocabulary to become more politically correct. In a 36-page report prepared for the 216th General Assembly, ACREC says it wants to be known as ACEMC – the Advisory Committee for "Emerging Majorities'" Concerns. Henceforth, "racial/ethnic" would no longer be used to describe programs and ministries for blacks, Asians, Hispanics and immigrants. The report also suggested that the denomination cease using "Native Americans" as the politically correct term of choice – in place of American Indians. Instead, ACEMC, nee ACREC, suggests the new terminology for Native Americans should be "First Nation." The committee's report was reviewed by the General Assembly Council's executive committee during its May 7-8 meeting in Louisville. There were a few politely phrased concerns about the change in language. But Helen Morrison of Grosse Ile, Mich., was straightforward. "I think that some are not going to like this 'emerging majorities,'" she said. John Detterick, the executive director of the General Assembly Council, chose to focus on the "real values" learned from working with ACREC and its review of denominational hiring patterns. "We have moved from a time of resentment," he said. "Some relationships that did not exist then exist now." ACREC said "emerging majorities" reflects the growth in non-white population, particularly among blacks and Hispanics and the anticipated day when people of color would be in the majority in the United States. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is a predominantly white, European-descent denomination. Fewer than 6 percent of its 2.45 million members are in the current "racial/ethnic" category. But the ACREC report suggested that the denomination does not reflect a commitment to hiring practices that parallel the "emerging majorities." For instance, the report said "emerging majorities" represent only: 21.1 percent of the employees of the Office of the General Assembly. 26.4 percent of the employees of the General Assembly Council. 38 percent of the employees of the Board of Pensions. The report called on the denomination to provide incentives to attract more "emerging majority" employees. Detterick noted that the denomination has a policy against paying incentives to new employees in any category.

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