Our mission statement: Our mission is to heighten awareness and foster understanding of local, national, and global social inequities, and to encourage appropriate Christian responses through education, suggestions, and actions.
The Social Principals in the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church — 2016 states:
The rights and privileges a society bestows upon or withholds from those who comprise it indicate the relative esteem in which that society holds particular persons and groups of persons. We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God. We therefore work toward societies in which each person’s value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened. We support the basic rights of all persons to equal access to housing, education, communication, employment, medical care, legal redress for grievances, and physical protection. We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation. Our respect for the inherent dignity of all persons leads us to call for the recognition, protection, and implementation of the principles of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights so that communities and individuals may claim and enjoy their universal, indivisible, and inalienable rights.
A message from Pastor Tom Frey
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”
Seeing those words out of context, one might assume they are spoken by one of the prophets. However, this verse actually appears in Proverbs (31:8-9) Now, Proverbs is considered not to be prophetic in nature, but rather contain words of wisdom, offering guidance for life.
Sadly, I see this as a reflection that, throughout the ages, society has voices that are heard and voices that are not heard or ignored. As a result, many of those loud public conversations end up actually being monologues in which the speakers’ own insights are repeated and repeated until they take on the illusion that they are the only possible perspective. They take on a sense of truth and are not contested, as the other voices do not even reach the table. And, too often, the one with the biggest purse has the most magnified perspective. Those who do not have the advantage are not only not heard; they are expected to be quiet and just accept what is spoken.
The writer of Proverbs tells us the wise person takes care to give voice to the voiceless, to speak for those who remain unheard, so that the common good might be advanced. We are all enriched when all perspectives are heard. And we are held responsible for seeing that these conversations take place so that we might preserve that which is humane in human society.
"See what the United Methodist Church is doing to address racism"
We will bring meaningful opportunities to you so that you may grow in your awareness and understanding of the many social issues facing God's children.
Contacts: Doreen Gay doreentgay@gmail.com , Judy Arnold judyarnold18@aol.com