Our Effect

Though overall spending on children has increased, total federal non-defense spending grew at nearly ten times that rate.

Attendees share understanding that health care is a human right and current system not working for everyone.

Because God’s values are embodied in the Social Creed, we are all called to live up to them.

Agencies cooperate on annual leadership development event that immerses attendees in how to advocate for just public policies.

More than 20 labor, environment, family farm and faith groups support legislation.

General Board of Church & Society issued a call this week to encourage the U.S. Senate to support 'America's Climate Security Act.'

'Banners Across America' initiative enables local congregations to participate in a nationwide, interfaith public witness.

Governments must apologize and act now to deliver 'concrete' improvements.

Both the Senate and House passed unanimously a ban on federal contractors avoiding some taxes by hiring employees through offshore shell companies.

United Methodist General Conference reaffirms Native American tribal sovereignty, calls for non-gambling tribal economic development and continues national comprehensive plan.

Advocacy is a legitimate and significant form of United Methodist missional calling.

The United Methodist Church strengthened its historic belief in the right to health care by adopting a new statement on global health and addressing the increasingly broken health-care system in the United States.

The United Methodist Church is calling for an immediate end to the war in Iraq, a ban on cluster bombs, prevention of "space weaponization" and study of war's "degrading effects.

A series of faith events across Iowa have drawn attention to the plight of immigrant workers and their families in the wake of the largest single-site immigration raid in U.S. history.

The U.S. Senate passed by a 75-22 vote a bill that will pay for another year of the Iraq and Afghanistan war efforts, and increase veterans' benefits.

Urge Congress to oppose additional money for war, support funding only for safe, timely redeployment of troops

When we do not connect with God in silence first, we often end up being silent or silencing others in our communities of faith where injustices are concerned

A display of empty military boots, four bishops and a top agency executive send a message from The United Methodist Church to the world.

There is much that needs to be done to arrest global hunger and poverty, and realize economic and social development. Collective and multilateral action must demonstrate its effectiveness "to perfect the triangle of development, freedom and peace," to quote Kofi Annan in his earlier Millennium Report, "We the peoples" (A/54/2000). The Millennium Development Goals are one such collective and multilateral document in which Heads of States, having galvanized their resolve to address global hunger and poverty, accepted to a set of benchmarks by which to measure their time-bound targets, datelined 2015, of halving extreme poverty, putting all children into primary school, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership for development that harness the resources and potentials of governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups and the private sector.

Human rights are global values that are at the foundational core of international law and practice. Enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations is this fundamental belief in human rights. The Charter says, "We the people of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom..."

Humanitarian affairs deal with issues that could mean life and death for specific populations. Such populations could include refugees fleeing war and conflict from their homelands. It could be internally displaced peoples arising from both natural disasters (like floods, droughts, storms and earthquakes) and human-made catastrophes (like landmines, nuclear explosions, oil spills). Many times, humanitarian action means coordinating humanitarian activities and the provision of assistance and protection for affected and vulnerable populations, but also in building up the capacities of entire communities so that not only can they cope with ongoing humanitarian challenges but eventually rise up to be sustainable and stable societies again.

International law, or more precisely public international law, governs and concerns the relations between and among sovereign nations, including other international bodies of standing. International norms and laws are developed mainly from multilateral conventions, especially those that find support and meaning from conventional and customary laws. The United Nations, including the International Labor Organization, which predates the founding of the UN but is now part of the UN system, are primary venues for the codification of international laws. There are many other sources of international law, including the international agreements that arise from international organizations like the World Health Organization, UNESCO, UNICEF, IMF and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"The world must advance the causes of security, development and human rights together; otherwise, none will succeed. Humanity will not enjoy security without development, it will not enjoy development without security, and it will not enjoy either without respect for human rights. In a world of interconnected threats and opportunities, it is in each country's self-interest that all of these challenges are addressed effectively." (Introduction to the Report of the Secretary General (Kofi Annan) to the United Nations, "In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All")

In a joint letter issued in Geneva June 24, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) requested the United Nations, the South African Development Community and the African Union to pay "urgent attention to the humanitarian needs of the people of Zimbabwe, their freedom to exercise religion, the destabilization of the political situation and the need to end human rights abuses".

World Health Organization urged to intensify work to curb harmful use of alcohol.

Governments must apologize and act now to deliver 'concrete' improvements.

The United Methodist Church strengthened its historic belief in the right to health care by adopting a new statement on global health and addressing the increasingly broken health-care system in the United States.

Ending genocide in Darfur and fulfilling the promise of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement requires a holistic approach.

A visit to the United Nations reinforces the commitment to change the world through the witness of fellow Christian leaders.

There is an opportunity to ensure this year that the U.S. halts its use of torture as a form of interrogation.

In a joint letter issued in Geneva June 24, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) requested the United Nations, the South African Development Community and the African Union to pay "urgent attention to the humanitarian needs of the people of Zimbabwe, their freedom to exercise religion, the destabilization of the political situation and the need to end human rights abuses".

Because God’s values are embodied in the Social Creed, we are all called to live up to them.

Agencies cooperate on annual leadership development event that immerses attendees in how to advocate for just public policies.

Agreement will increase wages and protection for those subjected to abuse from growers.

Governor, legislators urged to refrain from creating and enforcing legislation that would cause further disruption of the immigrant population.

A coordinated effort across the United Methodist connection helped stay the 100th execution in Virginia since 1982.

'Banners Across America' initiative enables local congregations to participate in a nationwide, interfaith public witness.

Resolutions opposing death penalty passed at every General Conference since 1956.

Governments must apologize and act now to deliver 'concrete' improvements.

United Methodist General Conference reaffirms Native American tribal sovereignty, calls for non-gambling tribal economic development and continues national comprehensive plan.

Advocacy is a legitimate and significant form of United Methodist missional calling.

The United Methodist Church strengthened its historic belief in the right to health care by adopting a new statement on global health and addressing the increasingly broken health-care system in the United States.

The United Methodist Church is calling for an immediate end to the war in Iraq, a ban on cluster bombs, prevention of "space weaponization" and study of war's "degrading effects.

A series of faith events across Iowa have drawn attention to the plight of immigrant workers and their families in the wake of the largest single-site immigration raid in U.S. history.

We must respond to the attempt in some United Methodist conferences to do away with dealing with some of the most challenging and controversial issues of our day.

Bishop calls for end to raids, expresses concerns for families affected.

UMC reaffirms position against death penalty.

When we do not connect with God in silence first, we often end up being silent or silencing others in our communities of faith where injustices are concerned