Statement on Social Action from Social Principles of UMC

From time to time it may seem appropriate to remind your UMW members and women of your church of the reason UMW is so involved in social issues at home and around the world. The following information is a short passage taken from the UMC Discipline.
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Statement on Social Action from Social Principles of the United Methodist Church 2009-2012)

As United Methodists, we have, from our beginning, understood the gospel to be both personal and social; further, we believe that there is no holiness apart from social holiness. Therefore, we consider it our responsibility to allow the light of the gospel to shine upon all parts of our society and to prayerfully consider, "What does God want me to do?"

John 10:10b reads, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Stewardship of health is the responsibility of each person to whom health has been entrusted. Creating the personal, environmental, and social conditions in which health can thrive is a joint responsibility--public and private. Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease, and restore health after injury or illness is a responsibility each person owes others and government owes to all.

 In Ezekiel 34 we read: “You do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured… but with force and harshness you have ruled them." As a result, all suffer. According to our denominational commitment as stated in our Social Principles, health care is a basic human right. "We believe it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care."

As a church, we are called to support the poor and challenge the rich. To begin to alleviate poverty, we support such policies as: adequate income maintenance, quality education, decent housing, job training, meaningful employment opportunities, adequate medical and hospital care, humanization and radical revisions of welfare programs, work for peace in conflict areas and efforts to protect creation's integrity.

 We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. Therefore, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the economic life of individuals and corporate entities and that ensure full employment and adequate incomes with a minimum of inflation. We support measures that would reduce the concentration of wealth.

 We believe every person has the right to a job at a living wage. Where the private sector cannot or does not provide jobs for all who seek and need them, it is the responsibility of government to provide for the creation of such jobs.