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2008 election guide Compares Democratic and Republican platforms with UMC statements A 2008 election guide that compares the platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties with the United Methodist “Social Principles” and Book of Resolutions is available. The guide was prepared by the Washington, D.C.-based General Board of Church & Society (GBCS), one of the denomination’s four international general program agencies. The guide can be downloaded from GBCS’s Web page at www.umc-gbcs.org. It is available in a comprehensive 14-page version and six bulletin inserts that address subject areas, such as “Economic and Environmental Justice; Civil and Human Rights; Health and Wholeness; Peace with Justice; Women and Children; and United Nations and International Affairs. By visiting the GBCS Web site, you can download in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format either or both versions of the election guide. 2008 Election Guide Election Guide Bulletin Inserts The guide is intended as a discernment tool. “As United Methodists, we are called to transform the world,” the introduction to the guide says. “Part of that transformation is made through faithful advocacy, community involvement and leadership.” The introduction suggests reading through the guide and asking yourself how these party platforms align with the denomination’s priorities for addressing human need and the integrity of God’s creation? Web links are included in the guide to the platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties and three others with candidates in this fall’s U.S. presidential election. The United Methodist Church does not advocate a strictly two-party system. As a consequence anyone accessing the election guide is encouraged to seek out details on other political parties and candidates. Parties and links are as follows: Democratic Party (http://www.democrats.org/agenda.html) Green Party (http://www.gp.org/platform.shtml); Libertarian Party (http://www.lp.org/platform) Ralph Nader (http://www.votenader.org/issues) Republican Party (http://www.gop.com/2008Platform) The 2009-2012 Social Principles and Book of Resolutions, approved this spring by the denomination’s highest policy-making body, are the source of United Methodist positions in the guide. The GBCS Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org, contains more information, including articles, statements, and resources, on the issues covered in the election guide. The General Board of Church & Society’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education and Leadership Formation, United Nations and International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center at the United Nations. GBCS’s program staff sponsors Action Networks that provide information on these and other advocacy issues. The networks are free. They include legislative updates, advocacy resources and identify opportunities to take action. Action Networks address: “AIDS,” “Alcohol and Other Addictions,” “Civil and Human Rights,” “Economic Justice,” “Environmental Justice,” “Health and Wholeness,” “Peace with Justice,” “United Methodists Against the Death Penalty,” “United Nations," and “Women and Children.” Information is distributed via e-mail. You can subscribe to any or all of the networks. You can join a network the following ways: by mail to General Board of Church and Society, 100 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002; by fax to (202) 488-5639; or online at www.umpower.org or www.umc-gbcs.org >>My GBCS. For more information, go to My GBCS on the GBCS Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org or contact Donna Brandyberry: (202) 488-5641 or via e-mail to dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org. Date: 9/29/2008 ©2005-2008

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