United Methodist Committee On Relief - History

History

In response to World War II’s devastating effects around the world the 1940 General Conference of the United Methodist Church passed a resolution to form a relief agency. Originally named the Methodist Committee for Overseas Relief (MCOR), UMCOR was begun as a temporary organization. MCOR was to “respond to the vast needs of human suffering worldwide” by analyzing the most critical needs in the world and relaying these needs to local churches who would in turn provide monetary assistance. From the outset, the agency promoted ecumenical partnership with other denominational relief efforts.

At the 1972 General Conference UMCOR was legislated as a permanent entity under the auspices of the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM). As UMCOR grew, the committee began to see the need to streamline its outreach efforts. The five areas of relief were created to encourage a more efficient distribution of aid.