The United Nations and its related bodies are regarded by The United Methodist Church as "the best instrument now in existence to achieve a world of justice and law" (Social Principles, ¶165 D). In the same resolution, the church urges the United Nations to "take a more aggressive role in the development of international arbitration of disputes and actual conflicts among nations by developing binding third-party arbitration. Bilateral or multilateral efforts outside of the United Nations should work in concert with, and not contrary to, its purposes." Such statements are an historical affirmation of the Wesleyan understanding of "the world as our parish" and that we "seek for all persons and peoples full and equal membership in a truly world community."
"The Charter of the United Nations calls upon the peoples and nations of the world to 'create an organization to ensure respect for fundamental human rights, establish conditions under which justice and the rule of law could be maintained, and promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom' " (Kofi Annan, In Larger Freedom). The United Nations is that singular international intergovernmental body that provides platforms for peoples and civil society, and nations and states, to come together to jointly seek and pursue peace and security, economic and social development, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and develop and enhance international law.
The United Methodist Church equally recognizes the interconnectedness of all these. In a General Conference resolution, it said, "The United Methodist Church must participate in building communities that prioritize the eradication of poverty and the elimination of hunger; the ending of wars and the elimination of conflicts; and the overcoming of ignorance, curing of diseases, and healing of enmities." (2004 Book of Resolutions, "Globalization and its Impact on Human Dignity and Human Rights," ¶309)
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
God’s world is one world. The unity now being thrust upon us by technological revolution has far outrun our moral and spiritual capacity to achieve a stable world. The enforced unity of humanity, increasingly evident on all levels of life, presents the Church as well as all people with problems that will not wait for answer: injustice, war, exploitation, privilege, population, international ecological crisis, proliferation of arsenals of nuclear weapons, development of transnational business organizations that operate beyond the effective control of any governmental structure, and the increase of tyranny in all its forms. This generation must find viable answers to these and related questions if humanity is to continue on this earth. We commit ourselves as a Church to the achievement of a world community that is a fellowship of persons who honestly love one another. We pledge ourselves to seek the meaning of the gospel in all issues that divide people and threaten the growth of world community.
Persons and groups must feel secure in their life and right to live within a society if order is to be achieved and maintained by law. We denounce as immoral an ordering of life that perpetuates injustice and impedes the pursuit of peace. Peoples and nations feel secure in the world community when law, order, and human rights are respected and upheld.
Believing that international justice requires the participation of all peoples and nations, we endorse the United Nations, its related bodies, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court as the best instruments now in existence to achieve a world of justice and law. We commend the efforts of all people in all countries who pursue world peace through law. We endorse international aid and cooperation on all matters of need and conflict. We urge acceptance for membership in the United Nations of all nations who wish such membership and who accept United Nations responsibility. We urge the United Nations to take a more aggressive role in the development of international arbitration of disputes and actual conflicts among nations by developing binding third-party arbitration. Bilateral or multilateral efforts outside of the United Nations should work in concert with, and not contrary to, its purposes. We reaffirm our historic concern for the world as our parish and seek for all persons and peoples full and equal membership in a truly world community.
The elected members of the General Board of Church and Society have voted to join the following coalitions and organizations. The staff person responsible for maintaining a liaison with each group is listed.
General Secretary's Office
Faith and Politics Institute – James Winkler
The Faith and Politics Institute provides occasions for moral reflection and spiritual community to political leaders, drawing universal wisdom from a range of religious traditions. The Institute encourages civility and respect as spiritual values essential to democracy and strives to strengthen political leadership that contributes to healing the wounds that divide our nation and our world.
Peace with Justice / United Nations and International Affairs Work Area
American NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court – Liberato Bautista
AMICC is a coalition of non-governmental organizations committed to achieving full United States support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the earliest possible US ratification of the Court's Rome Statute. AMICC members believe that strong participation by the US in the ICC is essential to the future of the Court as an effective institution. They take pride in the historic role of the US in promoting the development of international criminal law. They emphasize that the ICC expresses and implements values traditionally championed by the United States, including international justice and the rule of law. With our participation in AMICC, we also participate in the Washington Working Group on the International Criminal Court.
The Center on Conscience and War, formerly the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors (NISBCO), was formed in 1940 by an association of religious bodies. CCW works to defend and extend the rights of conscientious objectors. The Center is committed to supporting all those who question participation in war, whether they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, documented or undocumented immigrants—or citizens in other countries. GBCS produced “Conscientious Objectors and the Draft” for the Center.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) – Jim Winkler
CMEP is a coalition of 19 public policy offices of national churches and agencies -- Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. CMEP began its work in 1984 out of the conviction that the policy perspectives and long Middle East experience of our member bodies should be more widely known in the public policy arena. The work of Churches for Middle East Peace focuses on Washington in the knowledge that sound United States policy is crucial to achieving and maintaining just and stable relationships throughout the Middle East. In addition, CMEP seeks to help the members of our organizations advocate in a knowledgeable, timely and effective way their concerns about justice and peace for all people and countries in the region.
Citizens Trade Campaign (CTC) is national coalition of environmental, labor, consumer, family farm, religious and other civil society groups based in the United States. The Coalition is united in a common belief that international trade and investment are not ends unto themselves, but instead must be viewed as a means for achieving other societal goals such as economic justice, human rights, healthy communities, and a sound environment.
Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras – Mark Harrison
The Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras (CJM) is a tri-national, multi-sectoral coalition of religious, labor, environmental, community and women’s groups in Mexico, the United States and Canada, CJM strives, in a coordinated and multi-disciplinary way, for a better quality of life, sustainable development, social justice, human rights and environmental stability along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations – Liberato Bautista
The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) is an independent, international, not-for-profit membership association of nongovernmental organizations that facilitates the participation of NGOs in UN debates and decisions. CONGO is most active in the major UN centers of New York, Geneva, and Vienna, but extends its work to all regions of the world. CONGO ensures that NGO voices are heard throughout the international arena and that they are present when governments discuss issues of global concern at the United Nations. CONGO's membership comprises of national, regional and international nongovernmental organizations in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Liberato Bautista is currently representing GBCS as one of the 21 members of its elected international Board of Directors.
Faith and Ethics Network for the International Criminal Court – Liberato Bautista
The Faith and Ethics Caucus for the International Criminal Court is a coalition of religious, interfaith, ethics-based, and faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that examine the moral, ethical, and religious considerations surrounding the Court. Founded in 1997, the Caucus members also belong to the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) and the American NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court (AMICC). It was formerly called “Faith and Ethics Caucus for the ICC.”
International NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court – Liberato Bautista
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court is a network of over 2,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) advocating for a fair, effective and independent International Criminal Court (ICC). The network comprises members from all regions of the world and many sectors of global civil society, including human rights, the rights of women and children, peace, international law, humanitarian assistance, the rights of victims, and religion. These groups are united in their support for a fair and effective permanent International Criminal Court (ICC) and have made a significant contribution at all stages of the process, from the Preparatory Committee to the Rome Conference to the UN Preparatory Commission for the ICC. With entry into force of the Rome Statute for the ICC on July 1, 2002, the Coalition is now focused, among several, on obtaining worldwide ratification of the Rome Statute and ensuring the development of strong implementing legislation in all ratifying countries.
Jubilee USA Network began as Jubilee 2000/USA in 1997 when a diverse gathering of people and organizations came together in response to the international call for Jubilee debt cancellation for the world’s poorest countries. Now over 60 organizations including labor, churches, religious communities and institutions, AIDS activists, trade campaigners and over 8,000 individuals are active members of the Jubilee USA Network.
Save Darfur Coalition is an alliance of over 180 faith-based, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. The Coalition’s member organizations represent 130 million people of all ages, races, religions and political affiliations united together to help the people of Darfur.
United Nations Association of the USA – Council of Organizations – Liberato Bautista (New York) and Mark Harrison (Washington, DC)
UNA-USA's reach extends to millions of Americans through its Council of Organizations (COO), a coalition of over 100 non-governmental organizations with interests in education, religion, labor, sustainable development, human rights, health and women's issues that all share the common goals of making the American public more knowledgeable about global issues and the U.N. and strengthening the U.S. - U.N. relationship. The COO plays a critical role in offering opportunities for leaders from the NGO community to develop partnerships with the United Nations and each other. Both COO’s in Washington, D.C. and New York sponsor monthly briefings featuring U.N. ambassadors, academics, U.S. government officials, distinguished NGO leaders and top Secretariat officials which keep the NGO community informed while offering a forum to share educational information and advocacy plans regarding issues on the U.N. agenda. Liberato Bautista is currently Second Vice-Chair of the COO in New York.
United States Campaign to Ban Landmines – Mark Harrison
The United States Campaign to Ban Landmines is a coalition of organizations and people working to ban further U.S. use, production and export of anti-personnel landmines and cluster bombs and to encourage the U.S. to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and the cluster bomb treaty negotiated in 2008.
Win Without War (WWW) is a national coalition representing broad constituencies that aim to keep America safe and end the war in Iraq. The coalition advocates that international cooperation and enforceable international law provide the greatest security for the United States and the world. WWW offers a mainstream, patriotic voice for engaging opinion makers, activating concerned citizens, and communicating effectively to the media.
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