General Conference opens with hope
Personal ministry makes disciples
UMC formally admits Ivory Coast
Madam President, Mama President
Church retains stance on human sexuality
Pain and protest: A Good News response
Young people: a church to call home
Doubts arise following cellphone gifts
Sometimes a cellphone is just a cellphone
Deeds, not words, make disciples
Former abortion clinic owner shares story
U.S. Christians don’t feel persecution pain
Moved by the “water and the Spirit”
Church key to fighting AIDS crisis
Episcopal address focuses on hope
General Conference tackles global issues
Points of order, points of grace
CONFERENCE COMMENTARY
United Methodist teambuilding: Acevedo
Looking to the future with hope: Hamilton
Priorities transcend differences: McCurry
The dilemma of 3 Simple Rules: Reisman
COLUMNS
Editorial Reflections on the 2008 General Conference
RENEW Women’s Network Aftermath
Culture in View To Be a Friend of Caspian
Next Generation Responding to Speakaphobia
The Great Commission Brokenness
From the Hear Prison Praise
United Methodists have officially affirmed support for “the people of Tibet and their struggle for independence and autonomy.” Protests led by Buddhist monks have occurred in recent weeks in Tibet, sparked by grievances against Chinese rule and a desire for independence. A worldwide tour of the Olympic torch, which returned to China on April 30, was disrupted by pro-Tibet advocates. China is hosting the Olympics this summer.
The United Methodist Church affirms the Dalai Lama’s 1987 Five Point Peace Plan and supports the efforts of the United Nations to protect human rights of all Tibetans and preserve their heritage. The church’s agencies will “continue to monitor this situation and provide opportunities for the United Methodist Church members to advocate for justice for the people of Tibet.”
A new resolution on Sudan called “Sudan: A Call to Compassion and Caring” advocates for justice for all Sudanese, calls upon United Methodists “in every country” to encourage their governments to aid development of a more just economic system in the Sudan and asks church members to “examine all methods of protest and solidarity before undertaking them” to ensure that none of their actions cause violence.
Also approved was a petition reaffirming the denomination’s support “of the democratic aspirations and achievements of the people of Taiwan.” Church members are encouraged to become educated about contemporary issues related to Taiwan and the “One China” policy and promote the rights of Taiwanese “for stability, security and self-determination of its own status in the family of nations.”
The impact of globalization is addressed in a resolution on “Global Living Wage,” which calls upon “all members of the global United Methodist Church to work in partnership with persons, communities and governments everywhere around the world to bring about the creation of conditions that encompass fundamental workers’ rights, fair wages, a safe and healthy workplace, reasonable hours of work, decent living standards, support for community infrastructure and commitment to community economic development.”
Changes in welfare reform since the 2004 General Conference include the Work Opportunity and Personal Responsibility Act, commonly known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Act, which has a heightened focus on the work mandate as a condition for benefits.
The approved updating of the denomination’s resolution on “Principles of Welfare Reform” calls on United Methodists to urge state and county governments “to create programs that assist current and former welfare recipients in making the transition from dependence onto economic health, including: training, public sector job creation, child care and resources for parenting.”
Concerns about “The Girl Child” led to a petition advocating the church’s active support “to the empowerment of girls in all aspects of life.” The focus includes health, education, financial literacy and family environment. “Develop strategies and action plans to build girls’ stakes in their societies and to recognize their rights and citizenship at an early age. …,” the petition says.
The United Methodist Church is also urging justice for migrants worldwide. Delegates to the 2008 General Conference adopted resolutions covering both global migration and immigration issues in the United States.
The “Global Migration and the Quest for Justice” resolution stresses both the economic needs that contribute to massive movements of people today and the difficulties encountered by migrants and refugees.
The resolution commits the church to help all types of migrants and to engage in advocacy on their behalf. It urges investigation of the causes of displacement and marginalization and calls for the preparation of “educational resources for the achievement of these objectives.”
The global resolution also advocates for the unification of families divided by borders and commends refugee resettlement work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Adapted from United Methodist News Service stories written by Linda Bloom and Andrew J. Schleicher.
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