Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psalm 82:3
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
Bishop Desmond Tutu
Religious Leaders for Toxic Chemical Regulation Reform
From our Christian roots, how do we work for a cleaner environment? United Methodist Bishop Sally Dyck and four pastors showed us one way. Read their op-ed printed in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and comment if you, too, want a healthier environment for your church and family.
Fair Trade Coffee Sale
On the second Sunday of each month, WPGUMC offers for sale fair trade coffee, organic tea, cocoa, and chocolate. Through this sale we support the UMCOR Coffee Project, a United Methodist Committee on Relief project linking congregations with small farmers and their families through fair trade. It is a new way to help people in need while enjoying fellowship and an excellent cup of coffee. As Christians we can address a consumer dilemma by buying coffee that is fairly traded. United Methodist congregations that participate are supporting practices which help farmers in Latin America, Africa and Asia earn a fairer share of income, obtain access to credit and technical support, and gain a trading partner they can trust, a fair trade organization called Equal Exchange.
Note: The next Fair Trade Coffee sale will take place in September 2010.
Find out what the United Methodist Church is saying and doing in the area of Social Justice
The United Methodist Church has a long history of concern for social justice. Its members have often taken forthright positions on controversial issues involving Christian principles. There are many contemporary issues of great concern to United Methodists (cuts in child care funding, lack of affordable housing, lack of access to affordable health care, cuts in food aid programs, and many more). You can read more at the website of the General Board of Church and Society. Find out what issues are being discussed, what votes are coming before the legislature, and how to contact your representatives in national, state, and local government. You can check out U-M Power and find out how to take action on issues that concern you (their page is where you can find addresses for elected officials). Be an activist! http://www.umc-gbcs.org/
