METHODIST CHURCH SOCIAL PRINCIPLES
Do all the good you can; By all the means you can; In all the ways you can; In all the places you can; To all the people you can; As long as ever you can.
John Wesley
The United Methodist Book of Discipline contains social principles that set out the church’s position on social issues. The social principles are categorized into six general sections:
- The Natural World — We affirm that we’re responsible for the way we use the Lord’s creation.
- The Nurturing Community — We affirm the family and work to strengthen its relationships.
- The Social Community — We affirm all persons as equally valuable in God’s sight. We reject racism and assert the rights of racial minorities, religious minorities, children, youth, young adults, the aging, women, and disabled persons.
- The Economic Community — All economic systems are under the judgment of God.
- The Political Community — We hold governments responsible for the protection of people’s basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other.
- The World Community — God’s world is one world.
The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society website has the full text of the Social Principles.
