Our Effect

Pew research finds mainline Protestant denominations make up just 8% of the religious advocacy organizations in the U.S. capital, with Catholics and Evangelical Protestant groups having much larger representation.

Health-care, immigration reform, family planning remain on advocacy agenda.

Nuclear weapons pact languishing since April despite administration, military and bipartisan support.

The faith community often works at a disadvantage in an arena where money seems to rule the roost.

Passage of two acts in U.S. Congress should be celebrated as justice reform, but more work remains.

Faith leaders applaud step toward fairness in U.S. judicial system.

Conference votes to ask senator for increased funding on 2 initiatives.

Urge Obama administration, Senate to support U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women .

Approved $20 million more than President Obama requested.

8 conferences, including Liberia, 4 U.S. jurisdictions represented in 2-month work program in U.S. capital.

Participants excited by challenges of Christian participation, and realized systems were theirs to improve.

Compassion separates opposing visions on political playing field.

Broad coalition applauds bipartisan U.S. funding bill proposed by Maloney and Castle.

Goal to ensure low-income working families can make ends meet.

Obama budget calls for largest amount ever appropriated for family planning.

Religious leaders call for president, Congress to put families ahead of politics, pass immigration reform.

Federal government must act before other states adopt ‘draconian measures’ similar to Arizona’s.

Controversial Arizona law turns all people of color ‘into criminal suspects,’ Phoenix Area bishop asserts.

Connectional Table statement calling for end of abuses shared with government officials.

Workshop, featuring McCurry, Casey and Daughtry, will explore theological issues related to working in the public sector.

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")

• Overcome global poverty
  GBCS supports legislation that helps to end global poverty. Foreign aid reform, fair trade, debt cancellation, and major reform of international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, are instrumental ways the United States can lead to end poverty on God’s world.
• End the war in Afghanistan and promote a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine
• Senate ratification of the ‘Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty’ and a nuclear weapons reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia

Related topics: Global Poverty and Hunger, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Peace with Justice, United Nations

Contact: Mark Harrison or Levi Bautista

United Methodists raised more than $180,000 for the campaign last year.

Event held in conjunction with 63rd annual U.N./non-governmental organization conference.

Entity for Gender Equality & Empowerment of Women consolidates 4 divisions dealing with gender issues.

Seminar at U.N. for GBCS interns emphasizes world is not as God wants it, but it can and must be changed.

8 conferences, including Liberia, 4 U.S. jurisdictions represented in 2-month work program in U.S. capital.

Participants excited by challenges of Christian participation, and realized systems were theirs to improve.

Slow progress on maternal health, U.S. recalcitrance on ‘Women’s Treaty’ among several frustrating issues at ‘Beijing + 15.’

Connectional Table statement calling for end of abuses shared with government officials.

'No Nukes, No Wars, Fund Human Needs, Protect the Earth!' activities to precede U.N. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review.

U.S., China, Russia among only 37 states that have not joined.

Netanyahu government continues to charge ahead with construction of ever-more illegal Jewish settlements on Palestinian land, even blatantly announcing them during a visit by U.S. Vice President Biden.

Pact goes into effect in August now that 30th country ratified it.

National Council of Churches expresses ‘extreme alarm’ over arrests.

Women, girls particularly at risk in humanitarian crises, including natural disasters.

Is there anything anyone can do to bring this country out of its extreme poverty?

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's 7 priorities, include Millennium Development Goals, climate change agreement.

Advent Bible study expands awareness of obstetric fistula to more than 23 conferences.

International family-planning initiative funded by U.N. Foundation also involves General Board of Global Ministries.

Religious leaders say U.S. has responsibility to commitment toward reducing carbon emissions.

World Council of Churches calls for ‘chain of bells and prayers’ around the world.

Virginia UMW, Board of Church & Society annual event will include advocacy visits at state capitol.

Attendees will learn ways to use power of spirituality to create change they hope for in the nation and the world.

The United Methodist Church is among sponsors of a new resource on immigration issues, addressing them from a faith perspective. The curriculum offers segments of filmed interviews, facts and figures interspersed with class activities and discussion.

Holston Conference PATH event will feature ‘Poverty Simulation’ experience.

3 crucial questions about immigrants might lead to better understanding of the issues surrounding reform of U.S. laws.

Quarterly e-newsletter will tell of local churches that have broken down barriers to stand with the poor and marginalized in the name of Christ.

General Board of Church & Society invites pastors under age 35 to explore how United Methodist Social Principles can address deep-rooted causes of poverty.

Persons of faith from across the Sunshine State joined this spring to speak successfully to lawmakers on behalf of children.

General Board of Church & Society staff to lead West Ohio workshops on engaging people in faith-based response to immigration ministry.

Nearly 300 take part in 19th annual legislative visit sponsored by United Methodist Women, Conference Board of Church & Society.

Virginia Board of Church & Society, United Methodist Women sponsor visit to raise social justice awareness.

While charity creates dependency, justice restores and liberates.

Participants will explore issues that underlie petitions likely to be sent to 2012 General Conference.

Congregations use observance to increase awareness about organ and tissue donation, which The United Methodist Church supports.

Illinois’ reliance on video-gambling funding called ‘toxic’ for Chicago communities.

N.Y. Conference Task Force on Immigration seminar will be in Hartford, Conn.

Regional events will address unemployment, predatory lending, injustices of poverty.

Theological insights, identifying multiple dimensions of poverty and how to find long-range solutions, including how congregations can engage the problem will be addressed.