Racial Justice
We build beloved community within our congregations and advocate for a racially equitable society for all people because we understand “racism as a sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons.” Personal and institutional racism harms our full relationship with Christ and one another and together we can promote legislative policies that promote the common good and reflect our commitment to inclusion, equity, diversity, and antiracist communities.
Creation Care
The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church proclaim that “All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings.” To care for our common home and only home, we advocate for legislation that reflects our systemic commitment to ecologically sustainable policies and practices to protect all of God’s good creation (cf. Gen. 1:26-31, Matt. 6:26-30, Rom. 8::22-24).
Economic Justice
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 advocate for legislation that affirms human dignity, and furthers just, equitable and sustainable economies that work for all (cf. Amos 5:7-13, Matt. 25:3-46, James 2:15-16).
Gun Violence Prevention
Persons and groups must feel secure in their life and right to live within a society if order is to be achieved and maintained by law. We denounce as immoral an ordering of life that perpetuates injustices and impedes the pursuit of peace. Peoples and nations feel secure in the world community when law, order, and human rights are respected and upheld.” We advocate for legislation that addresses the public health crisis caused by gun-related violence that destroys people’s lives every day. We are committed to decreasing gun-related violence, increasing gun safety, and healing victims and survivors traumatized by gun-related violence (cf. Isaiah 2:3-4, Micah 4:2-3, Matt. 5:9).
Immigrant Rights
The United Methodist Social Principles declare, “We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm the right of all persons to equal opportunities for employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination.” We advocate for the human dignity, human worth, and human rights of migrants, refugees, and immigrants and support legislation that provides them with equitable and accessible immigration policies (cf. Gen. 23:4, Deut. 27:19, Jer. 7:5-7, Rom. 13:8).
Voting Rights
“While our allegiance to God takes precedence over our allegiance to any state, we acknowledge the vital function of government as a principal vehicle for the ordering of society. We further assert the right of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic persons to nondiscrimination in voting.” To deny access to the vote is to deny the very humanity and sacredness of those denied. We advocate for policies that safeguard the right for all persons to exercise their conscience and to secure the freedom and right to vote (cf. Amos 2:6-7).
Restorative Justice
“In the love of Christ, who came to save those who are lost and vulnerable, we urge the creation of a genuinely new system for the care and restoration of victims, offenders, criminal justice officials, and the community as a whole.” Our commitment to restorative justice compels us to dismantle punitive and discriminatory systems that oppress and to promote public policies that promote mutuality, accountability, and reparative relationships in society (cf. Deut. 32:3-4, Psalm 89:14; 145:17, Luke 4:18-19).
Domestic Violence