Our Social Principles
Taking an active stance in society is nothing new for followers of John Wesley. He set the example for us to combine personal
and social piety. Ever since predecessor churches to United Methodism flourished in the United States, we have been known as a
denomination involved with people's lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications.
Such involvement is an expression of the personal change we experience in our baptism and conversion.
Excerpt from The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2016. Copyright ©2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House.
Used by permission.
The Social Principles, while not to be considered church law, are a prayerful and thoughtful effort on the part of the General
Conference to speak to the human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation as historically
demonstrated in United Methodist traditions. They are a call to faithfulness and are intended to be instructive and persuasive in
the best of the prophetic spirit. The Social Principles are a call to all members of The United Methodist Church to a prayerful,
studied dialogue of faith and practice.
From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2016. Copyright 2016 by The United Methodist Publishing House.
Used by permission.
Social Creed
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 all persons.
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, 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.