Instead, we recognize that our public support or opposition represents our human decisions. Of course, we make those decisions in the context of trying to understand what God wants for us, but we never claim to have a divine pronouncement on something; therefore, issues are always open to discussion.
|
We
do have a set of basic beliefs about the social world, |
|
We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends. We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind. We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family. We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God; in collective bargaining and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress. We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world. We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the Gospel in the world. Amen. |
United
Methodists have a long history of social activism, which comes from the
very roots of the Church, founder John Wesley’s urging to spread
"scriptural holiness across the land." So we do take a formal
stand on many social issues and work to create equality and fairness in
these areas.
 |
|||
|
|
 |
||
