UM churches display anti-torture banners

The United Methodist Building across the street from the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court displays an anti-torture banner.

The United Methodist Board of Church & Society is among more than 275 congregations or faith-based organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that will display an anti-torture banner on the exterior of their buildings during June

The nationwide, interfaith public witness, “Banners Across America,” is linked to “Torture Awareness Month,” and is organized by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT).

Most of the black-and-white banners say “Torture is a Moral Issue” or “Torture is Wrong.”

Artwork by Octavio Roth

Many more congregations will incorporate an Interfaith Prayer of Recommitment into worship services during the weekend of June 6-8, seeking to raise awareness of the use of torture and to lift a religious voice of repentance and prophetic witness,” according to the Rev. Richard Killmer, NRCAT executive director.

NRCAT is committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, more than 190 religious organizations have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Quaker, and Sikh communities. You can learn more at www.tortureisamoralissue.org.

The United Methodist Board of Church & Society’s building is in Washington, D.C., across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Capitol.

United Methodist congregations participating in this effort include the following:

A list of all of the congregations participating is at Banners Across America. To see photos of banners, click on gallery.

For more information, visit www.tortureisamoralissue.org. Kilmer can be reached at (202) 547-1920.

Civil and Human Rights Advocacy

The United Methodist Board of Church & Society advocates for the preservation of civil and human rights for all people throughout the world. The civil and human rights of all people are upheld by the United Methodist Church according to the 2004 Book of Discipline (¶164A).

The creation of humankind in God’s own image reveals God’s value for all of human life. The ministry of Jesus, which is focused especially to the poor and those on the margins of society (Luke 4:16-19), illustrates Jesus’ concern with all areas and dimensions of human life.

The Board of Church & Society has a Web page dedicated to “Civil and Human Rights.”

Action Network

Bill Mefford, director of Civil and Human Rights at the United Methodist Board of Church & Society, supervises a Civil and Human Rights Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues involving immigration reform, refugees, criminal justice reform, abolition of torture, religious freedom and racial justice. He issues “Action Alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Civil and Human Rights Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church and Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641. Bill Mefford can be reached at (202) 488-5657.