Preface
“Love is the fulfilling of the law, the end of the commandment.” Very excellent things are spoken of love; it is the essence, the spirit, the life of all virtue. It is not only the first and great command, but it is all the commandments in one. “Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are amiable,” or honorable; “if there be any virtue, if there be any praise,” they are all comprised in this one word,—love (John Wesley, “The Circumcision of the Heart”).
Our involvement in political systems is rooted in the Gospel imperative to love our neighbors, to do justice, and to care for the vulnerable. As United Methodists, we acknowledge that love requires responsible political action and engagement aimed at the betterment of society and the promotion of the common good. We acknowledge that such political engagement demands humility and mindfulness of our own complicity in perpetuating injustice. It also necessitates compassion, prayer, and a willingness to discern God’s guidance.
We believe in the inherent worth of all people, which is established through God’s gracious act of creation and most fully revealed in the power of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. The understanding that people are created in the image of God is a central theme in John Wesley’s teachings.
We further believe that God calls all members of the human family to recognize and protect the dignity and worth of all people and to work for the well-being of all God’s creation. We, therefore, support structures in the church and in civil society that honor the basic freedoms and rights of all human beings and protect God’s creation. In particular, we afrm the important work of the United Nations in promoting peace and security, championing human dignity and human rights, and advocating for sustainable development.
Contents
- Preface
- Government Responsibilities
- Church and Governments
- Civil Disobedience
- Restorative Justice
- The Death Penalty
- Criminal Justice
- War and Military Service
- Basic Rights and Freedoms
- Health Care
- Children and Young People
- Elders and the Aging
- Women and Girls
- Men and Boys
- Indigenous, Native and Aboriginal Communities
- Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees
- People with Disabilities
- Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities
- Religious Minorities
Government Responsibilities
We affirm that both church and state have vital and distinct roles to play in relation to the larger society. Though the formal relationships between religious communities and governments vary from country to country, we generally affirm the independence and integrity of both institutions, and we advocate for a relationship of mutual respect in which neither institution seeks to dominate or unduly influence the other.
We affirm that every form of government stands under God’s judgment and must therefore be held accountable for protecting the innocent, guaranteeing basic freedoms and liberties, protecting the natural world, and establishing just, equitable, and sustainable economies.
We urge those elected or appointed to public posts or holding other positions in government to act as responsible leaders and stewards of the authority and resources entrusted to them. We call on all government ofcials to aspire to the highest standards of professionalism, honesty and integrity. Furthermore, we urge all governments to adopt policies and practices that guarantee accountability and transparency in fostering and maintaining the trust of the public.
We reject governmental use of threats, extortion, unlawful detentions, extrajudicial killings, and other forms of coercion to silence political opponents and those objecting to unlawful or immoral government policies and practices. In keeping with international laws and ordinances, we vehemently protest the use of torture, slavery, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression by any government and call for the strictest international sanctions to be imposed in such cases.
While we do not believe churches should affiliate with particular political parties, we do encourage churches to speak out boldly on social issues from a Gospel perspective. We further believe churches have a right and a responsibility to educate and equip their members to be effective advocates for justice in the wider world.
We support those who, acting under the constraints of moral conscience or religious conviction and having exhausted all other legal avenues, feel compelled to disobey or protest unjust or immoral laws. We urge those who engage in civil disobedience to do so nonviolently and with respect for the dignity and worth of all concerned. We also appeal to all governmental bodies, especially the police and any other institutions charged with protecting public safety, to provide appropriate training and to act with restraint and in a manner that protects basic rights and prevents emotional or bodily harm to those engaged in civil disobedience.
The Gospels place a premium on the restoration of right relationships (Matt. 18:15– 20). When relationships are violated or broken through crime or wrongdoing, such restoration is critically important. We, therefore, urge governments to develop systems that emphasize restorative justice, which requires people who have committed crimes to make amends for their ofenses, and allows victims, if they elect to do so, to share with ofenders how they have been harmed. Restorative justice seeks to prioritize the victim and the victim’s family. It also seeks to repair damages, right wrongs, and bring healing to the victim, the offender, families and the community.
We urge congregations, governments, and businesses to support diversion programs that allow those who have committed offenses to receive counseling, education, skills training, community service, and other assistance to help them become fully contributing members of society. We encourage citizens to partner with law enforcement personnel in local communities to create alternatives to practices that emphasize retribution rather than restoration.
Our commitment to the inherent dignity and worth of every person and our historic stance as United Methodists compels us to oppose capital punishment and the imposition of the death penalty. The death penalty is a sentence of execution imposed upon a legally convicted individual.
Tragically, the death penalty compounds the loss of human life with the deliberate taking of another life. Additionally, the administration of the death penalty disproportionately impacts people who live in poverty, those who are uneducated, people who live in marginalized racial and ethnic communities, and people with mental impairments. Further, modern advances in technology have shown that a significant number of people are wrongly convicted of the crimes with which they have been charged. Such injustices call us to question the fair application of the death penalty and its congruence with the fundamental right to fair and equal treatment under the law.
We, therefore, call for the abolition of the death penalty and urge individuals and congregations to educate themselves about the historical stance of The United Methodist Church and its predecessors, especially The Evangelical United Brethren Church. Further, we ask pastors and congregations to commit themselves to minister to those who have lost loved ones to violent crimes and to support families without judgment as they navigate the competing demands of justice, compassion and healing.
John Wesley campaigned tirelessly for improved conditions for prisoners. Once, in a period of nine months, he preached at least 67 times in various jails. He bemoaned the deplorable conditions under which most prisoners in his day lived. Claiming this heritage, we afrm the rule of law, the guarantee of civil liberties and rights, and equal access to justice for all people. We condemn discriminatory enforcement or any abuse of power for reasons of tribe, ethnicity, native language, country of origin, economic disadvantage, gender, sexual orientation, disability or citizenship status. We encourage systemic monitoring for prejudice and bias in all criminal justice systems. We further support access to competent legal representation for people who are accused and/or convicted of criminal acts.
We believe that offenders must be held accountable for criminal actions, particularly those that result in a loss of life or livelihood, so we support measures that prevent, deter or eliminate crimes, and set apart dangerous offenders. While insisting on accountability, we are also committed to fair and proportional sentencing and to the humane treatment of those who are imprisoned. We strongly support programs in prisons designed to promote rehabilitation and restoration of inmates. We do not believe that prisons should be for-profit enterprises.
In our communities, we support measures designed to address the root causes of crime, including poverty and the lack of educational opportunities, recreational activities, substance abuse treatment and counseling, mental health services, and job training. We endorse initiatives designed to promote positive interactions between law enforcement and members of local communities. Further, we encourage efforts to reintegrate people who have been released from prison back into the community, including the provision of employment opportunities, the restoration of voting rights and, where appropriate, the sealing of criminal records.
We encourage churches to be in ministry with those who are incarcerated, advocating for these people and for criminal justice reform as well. As forgiven people, Christians must combat the stigma often attached to people who have been in prison. We applaud the involvement of many United Methodists in prison ministries centering on worship, education and rehabilitation.
The church deplores war and all other forms of violent conflict and urges the peaceful settlement of all disputes. We yearn for the day when there will be no more war and people will live together in peace and justice.
We reject the use of war as an instrument of foreign policy and insist that every peaceful and diplomatic means of resolution be exhausted before the start of armed conflicts. Similarly, we oppose the increasing reliance on preemptive strikes unless they can be clearly demonstrated to be proportionate in response, delimited in human casualties, and undertaken in response to clear and immediate threats to human lives. We grieve that in a world where so many live in poverty, governments continue to dedicate enormous resources to preparing for and conducting wars. We are especially distressed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and call not only for an end to their production, but for their complete elimination.
Christians have struggled with the issue of war since the time of Jesus. Some Christians have argued historically that war and other acts of violence are never acceptable, while other believers have asserted that it is sometimes necessary to take up arms in self-defense or to defend the innocent and prevent unchecked aggression, tyranny and genocide.
We urge all United Methodists to examine their own consciences and earnestly seek God’s guidance when it comes to matters of military service. We honor and offer support to those who choose military service as a result of personal conviction and urge that they perform their duties in harmony with the tenets of the Christian faith and in accordance with the laws of the Geneva Conventions.
We also honor and support the witness of pacifists whose consciences and religious convictions prevent them from serving in the military or limit them to taking noncombatant roles. The roots of such pacifist convictions are well established in the historic stances of The United Methodist church and its predecessor bodies. We oppose compulsory military service and urge governments to abolish this practice and, instead, allow those who choose not to serve in the military to complete terms of community service or to contribute in other creative ways.
As a church, we commit ourselves to support all people as they discern how best to model the nonviolent example of Jesus. The church supports and guides those who serve in the military; those who are conscientious objectors; veterans living with physical, psychological, spiritual, and moral injury; and families of people affected by military service. We urge the church to care and work for systemic justice for all people affected by war, and to advocate for peacemaking and nonviolent conflict transformation in global and local conflicts.
Basic Rights and Freedoms
We declare that all individuals, no matter their circumstances or social standing, are entitled to basic human rights and freedoms. These rights are grounded in God’s gracious act in creation (Gen. 1:27), and they are revealed fully in Jesus’s incarnation of divine love. As a church, we will work to protect these rights and freedoms within the church and to reform the structures of society to ensure that every human being can thrive.
As set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other important international treaties, basic rights and freedoms include the right to life, liberty, and security as well as to equal treatment before the law and freedom from unlawful detention. Additional liberties include the rights to fair trial, privacy, public assembly, free expression, democracy, food and shelter. Further, workers have rights to engage in collective bargaining, receive just compensation and work in safe, healthy environments.
Rights call forth responsibilities. We urge individuals, congregations, and other church bodies to advocate vigorously not only for their own rights, but also for the rights of those who are voiceless or whose voices are unheard in society. Governments must be held responsible for guaranteeing human rights and liberties; such responsibilities include ensuring that all people have access to affordable, high-quality education, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, economic status or any other divisive marker.
We condemn all attempts to deny individuals their basic rights or freedoms or to strip human beings of their inherent dignity and worth. We, therefore, reject within the church and wider society any act of discrimination, hatred or violence directed against individuals or groups based on national origin, tribal affliation, ethnicity, age, gender identity, disability status, economic condition, sexual orientation, religious affliation or other any factors. Additionally, in the face of historic wrongs perpetrated against indigenous peoples, enslaved African peoples and other marginalized groups, we call for forthright confession and repentance as well as concrete acts of reparation to redress past and present forms of social injustice.
We affirm health care as a basic human right and vow to work toward expanded access to all forms of medical treatment, including preventative, therapeutic, and palliative care. Half the world’s population lack access to health care, and a growing number of people who do have access face increased medical expenses for themselves or their loved ones, pushing them toward poverty. To confront these painful realities, we urge United Methodists to join eforts aimed at creating systems that provide comprehensive health protections for all. Additionally, we believe that everyone has a right to decent living conditions, including adequate food and water, safe housing and a healthy environment.
Health care as a human right also means that clinics, hospitals, and medical services and treatments must be accessible, affordable and of good quality. They must also be available when and where they are needed and be provided on an equitable basis. We call on governments, businesses, churches, and civil society institutions to work cooperatively to ensure that every human being has access to medical services and treatment.
Additionally, we call on national governments and international health organizations and medical groups to work cooperatively and expeditiously to address global pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, as well as outbreaks of contagious diseases that threaten the health and well-being of entire countries and regions. As a church, we support other measures and initiatives to improve human health, including investments in preventative care, good nutrition, continuing research in infectious disease prevention and treatment, pre- and postnatal health, and substance abuse treatment on demand. We commend churches that are involved in community-based health care ministries.
We call on church and society to support and advocate for the well-being of all children and young people and for their safety, nurture, agency, education, and participation in church and community life. We condemn destructive practices of neglect, abuse, abduction, exploitation, human trafficking, use of children in armed conflict, and imprisonment. We recognize that perpetrators of abuse or endangerment are usually in positions of power. We hold them accountable for their actions, whether they are parents and family, teachers, clergy, or congregational or public leaders. We call on the church to stand firmly against the detention of children, and we challenge policies that deny basic rights to the young or discriminate against them based on gender identity, ethnicity, abilities, economic status, sexual orientation, migratory status, religion or national origin. Further, we urge people in positions of authority and power to support and include young people in making decisions and contributing their gifts at all levels of church and society.
Elders have many gifts to give. We call upon the church, governments, and civic bodies to provide continuing opportunities for them to participate in the human family and contribute to God’s work in the world. Elders also have the right to support and protection against the vulnerabilities of aging, expressed in economic disparities, unjust inheritance practices, inadequate public health care, and systemic neglect based on gender, ethnicity, abilities and economic conditions.
We urge the church, governments, and civil society to develop and enact social policies and programs that provide for the needs and rights of people as they age. We support social policies that integrate elders into community life and guarantee resources for their well-being, including nondiscriminatory employment opportunities, educational and service opportunities, accessible medical care and housing, protection from economic or psychological exploitation, and high-quality, publicly assisted elder care. We affirm the self-determination of elders whether living independently or in families or institutions, and we condemn violations of their quality of life through unnecessary medication or restrictions on their social participation and agency.
We affirm that the gifts of women and girls are vital to God’s creation and make important contributions to both church and society. We support equal opportunities and rights for all women and girls, regardless of national origin, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability or other characteristics.
To ensure these rights, we implore the church, governments, and civic institutions to develop more equitable structures and policies and to recognize women’s value, wisdom and concerns. All women have a right to equal educational opportunities, protection of their bodies, reproductive justice, parental rights and responsibilities, employment, and equitable compensation and promotion.
We affirm the dignity and worth of all women and girls and we urge the church, governments, and civic bodies to nurture their leadership potential and enhance their opportunities to provide leadership in all aspects of church and social life. We ask the same bodies to ensure their rights to live free from gendered expectations that limit their full development as human beings and from harassment, discrimination, violence, domestic or workplace abuse, human trafficking, and other forms of gender-based violence in all times and places. In the strongest sense possible, we urge the church and all political and civic bodies to enact policies that promote and protect the status and role of women and girls in all facets of life so they can thrive and contribute their gifts to the well-being of society.
We affirm that men and boys make important contributions to both church and society. We support equal opportunities for all men and boys regardless of national origin, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability or other characteristics.
To ensure these rights, opportunities and protections, we urge the church, governments, and civic institutions to develop equitable structures and policies to make certain that the dignity and worth of all men and boys are recognized and affirmed. We further call for the rights of men and boys to be safeguarded in education, employment, compensation and promotion, and parental rights and responsibilities.
We affirm the rights of men and boys to live free from harassment, violence, discrimination, domestic or workplace abuse, human trafficking, and gendered expectations that limit their full development as human beings. We encourage the creation of opportunities for their leadership potential to be nurtured, in order that they might thrive and contribute their gifts to the well-being of society.
F. Indigenous, Native and Aboriginal Communities
We support the rights of indigenous, native, and aboriginal communities and affirm that like all people they must be afforded the basic rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We condemn acts of genocide against indigenous peoples and call for government treaties and contracts with native and aboriginal peoples to be honored and enforced.
We join with indigenous peoples and tribes to demand that their rights to exercise national sovereignty be upheld by governments and courts. We support the efforts of indigenous people to revitalize their languages and cultures in the face of concerted efforts to assimilate them into mainstream societies. We acknowledge that indigenous, native, and aboriginal peoples are entitled to control their land, water and other resources, and we decry any attempts to forcibly seize these resources or to forcibly remove indigenous people from their territories.
G. Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees
We affirm the dignity, worth and rights of migrants, immigrants and refugees, including displaced and stateless people. In so doing, we acknowledge that the world today is facing an unprecedented crisis related to the displacement of vast numbers of people due to such factors as ongoing wars and other hostilities, foreign interventions, widespread famine and hunger, global warming and climate change, and the failure of nation-states to adequately protect and care for their people.
We recognize that displaced people are particularly vulnerable as their in-between status often provides them with few protections and benefits, leaving them open to exploitation, violence and abuse. We urge United Methodists to welcome migrants, refugees, and immigrants into their congregations and to commit themselves to providing concrete support, including help with navigating restrictive and often lengthy immigration policies, and assistance with securing food, housing, education, employment and other kinds of support.
We oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants or refugees. Additionally, we decry attempts to detain displaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. We challenge policies that call for the separation of families, especially parents and minor children, and we oppose the existence of for-profit detention centers for such purposes.
We affirm the full humanity and acknowledge the gifts of people living with disabilities. We call for the elimination of all barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating fully in the life of local congregations and the broader society. Though no one term has gained universal acceptance throughout our global connection, “people with disabilities” refers to a broad group of people living with distinctive cognitive, physical, developmental, sensory, neurological, intellectual, and psychological conditions or challenges.
We lament that the church has often stigmatized and discriminated against people with disabilities by imposing labels with negative connotations, by failing to make space in church life for the full range of God’s people, and by interpreting words such as “blind,” “lame,” and “deaf” in pejorative ways. Because of this, people with disabilities are frequently dismissed or undervalued, both in the church and in civil society. In response, we call the church to acts of repentance, to earnest listening, and to a collaborative ministry with people with disabilities so they can contribute their wisdom and gifts to the mission and ministry of local congregations and other church bodies.
We likewise call on civil society, business, and government leaders to work toward the removal of all barriers and to provide opportunities for those with disabilities to make their unique contributions to the entire society. We call for the protection of the rights of all people with disabilities, including the rights to health care, employment, education, housing and transportation, and to freedom from discrimination.
I. Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities
Because all people are of sacred worth and certain basic human rights are due to everyone, we are committed to supporting the equal rights, liberties and protections of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We see clear issues of equality and justice in protecting the rightful claims of those with shared material resources, pensions, guardian relationships, mutual powers of attorney, and other lawful claims typically attendant to contractual relationships that involve shared contributions, responsibilities and liabilities, and equal protection before the law. Moreover, because in many countries sexual and gender minorities are disproportionately impacted by social stigmas, discrimination, coercion and violence, we call on churches, governments, businesses, and civic organizations to do all in their power to combat such unjust treatment and to promote equal rights and protections for all.
We affirm the rights of religious minorities to worship in peace and to exercise their faith free from fear of discrimination or persecution. We condemn actions by any individual, group or organization that denigrate or demean those belonging to another faith. As Christians, we consider such attitudes and actions to be antithetical to Jesus’s command to love one’s neighbor.
We urge governments, businesses, churches, and other institutions in civil society to take concerted action to preserve and protect the rights of all religious people. We object to any form of discrimination and intolerance toward religious minorities, including laws that ban religious clothing and symbols, and statements from public offcials that incite intolerance, hatred and violence. We call for responsible media coverage of religions and condemn the dissemination of stereotypes and untruths about religious minorities.
We endorse the rights of all religious people to practice their faith, free from unjustified and unnecessary legal, political, and financial restraints. We also support the right of individuals to choose their own faith, and we reject attempts to impose beliefs on people or to coerce or manipulate them into joining or remaining a part of a religious tradition when they have decided to disaffliate. Individual religious belief must not be used to deny basic human rights.
From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2016. Copyright 2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.
