8/7/2019 Methodist Church and Social Justice - Winter 2010

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United Methodists take seriously their responsibility toserve the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciul, those

who mourn, those who are persecuted, those who hungeror righteousness, the peacemakers. Tese, o course, arethe very groups Jesus calls blessed, in the beatitudes(Matthew 5:1-12).

Ever since John Wesley rst exhorted ollowers to practiceboth personal and social piety, Methodistsas individualsand as a denominationhave been involving themselvesin eorts to bring about peace and social justice. Tisundamental tenet o Methodism is spelled out explicitlyin the Social Principles, a statement ound in the Bookof Disciplinethat guides both ofcial church action as well

as individuals actions. Tese principles set orth ofcialMethodist teaching on what constitutes just action in thesocial community, the economic community, the politicalcommunity and the world community, as well as in thenatural world and in our amilies.

Among the stances endorsed in the Social Principles:

In social community, the church rejects racism andasserts the rights o racial minorities to equal oppor-tunities, upholds the rights o religious minorities, aswell as the old, the young, women, and those who are

disabled, and calls or abstinence rom alcohol andillegal drugs.

In the economic community, the church recognizesthe right o employees to organize or collectivebargaining, the right o sae and meaningul work,supports eorts to ensure truth in pricing, packaging,lending and advertising, moderation in consumptiono consumer goods and abstinence rom gambling.

In the political community, the church calls orreedom o inormation and quality education,deends the rights o individuals to practice conscien-tious, non-violent civil disobedience, and urges thecreation o new systems o criminal rehabilitation.

In the world community, the church holds nationsaccountable or unjust treatment o their citizens,arms the right o people in developing nations toshape their own destiny, applauds eorts to create amore justice international economic order, condemnswar as incompatible with the teachings o Christ, and

claims the primary moral duty o every nation is toresolve disputes peaceully.

Te Churchs General Board o Church and Society ischarged with showing Methodists that the reconcilia-tion that God eected through Christ involves personal,social, and civic righteousness (2008 Book of Discipline).It does this through a number o church-sponsoredministries and campaigns. Among them:

Te I Am Prophet-Driven campaign is an attemptto advocate on behal o those whose lives have beenravaged by our prot-driven society. As the countryslowly works its way out o this current recession, the

campaign calls on the government to ocus primarilyon the needs o the poor rather than the auent.Congregations are being asked to sign a just economypledge, which stipulates that scripture demands weplace those living on the economic margins at thecenter o our vision o a just economy.

Te UM Power Action Center is an online advocacyministry that alerts subscribers to pending legislativevotes in a variety o social justice areas, and helps themsend email messages or make phone calls to policymakers to infuence the outcome.

Te Faith in Action weekly newsletter providesregular news and views rom the General Board oChurch and Society. Each edition oers editorials,proles o United Methodists engaged in social justicework, announcements o upcoming conerences orseminars, links to study resources and other guidesor those wanting to become in some aspect o socialjustice.

Te United Methodist Seminar Program onNational and International Afairs designs one- tothree-day seminars and eld trips in Washington D.C.or New York City or both Methodist and non-Meth-odist groups on a range o social justice topics.

In short, ever since John Wesley earlessly spoke out onthe controversial issues o his dayissues such as slavery,health care or the poor, prison reormgeneration atergeneration o those who have come ater him in thechurch have been empowered to continue to speak outand to act on behal o those whom Jesus called blessed.

Methodists and Social Justice

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