The Revised Social Principles of the United Methodist Church state that “[o]ur involvement in political systems is rooted in the Gospel imperative to love our neighbors, to do justice, and to care for the vulnerable. As United Methodists, we acknowledge that love requires responsible political action and engagement aimed at the betterment of society and the promotion of the common good.” The Social Principles further affirm that “every form of government stands under God’s judgment and must therefore be held accountable for protecting the innocent, guaranteeing basic freedoms and liberties, protecting the natural world, and establishing just, equitable, and sustainable economies.”
Given those and other provisions of the Social Principles regarding the church’s role in the Political Community, Glenn’s Justice Team has been heartened to see various bodies of the United Methodist Church making statements and taking stands in response to recent governmental actions.
1. The United Methodist Council of Bishops, on December 18, 2024, wrote a Pastoral Letter Addressing Plight of Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees. In that letter the Bishops expressed great concern over the threat of mass deportations of undocumented migrants. The Bishops worried that “this mass deportation of migrants will cause further racial profiling, the separation of families, the undermining of communities and congregations, the weakening of the economy of this country and its democratic systems of law and justice.” Based upon the section of the Social Principles addressing Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees, the Bishops “call[ed] upon the people of The United Methodist Church to pray for migrants, immigrants, and refugees among us and to welcome them with the fullness of Christian love, remembering that as we welcome these, our brothers, and sisters, we welcome Jesus our Lord.”
2. Similarly, the UMC’s General Board of Church and Society issued a statement on January 13, 2025, that read, in part, “Grounded in fear, hate and falsehoods, U.S. immigration policy calling for mass deportation of millions of people, is not an act of justice but a failure to recognize the sacred worth of every individual. Church and Society’s statement opposing those unfair policies is deeply rooted in John Wesley’s teachings on social holiness and grace. Wesleyan theology upholds prevenient grace — the belief that God’s grace goes before us and extends to all people, regardless of nationality, legal status, or social standing. Policies that promote exclusion and violence against vulnerable communities deny this essential truth.” In light of our Wesleyan theology the GBCS “call[ed] upon United Methodists to resist these harmful and unjust proposals, while at the same time, offer[ing] radical hospitality that reflects Christ’s love. We encourage local churches to welcome newly arriving migrants into their congregations; support churches that prayerfully choose to offer sanctuary for undocumented migrants facing deportation; advocate for just immigration reform; and hold elected leaders accountable for policies that do not honor human dignity and reflect God’s boundless love.”
3. On February 3, 2025, The Council of Bishops released a letter to President Trump in response to his Executive Order to suspend all U.S. foreign assistance programs and subsequent Work Stop Order issued by the Department of State. After quoting the Social Principles, the letter continues by saying that the “Executive Order to suspend all U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days raises profound concerns for The United Methodist Church. As a world-wide Church we engage with congregations and communities throughout the world. We bear a long-standing commitment to serving the vulnerable and promoting global justice.” The Bishops then acknowledged the Administration’s stated concern for protecting American interests, but “respectfully ask[s] that you consider the moral imperative to assist those in need and the significant contributions programs supported by U.S. foreign aid make to humanitarian relief and peace.” The Bishops then took time to share the important work being done by UMCOR and stated that its work with other U.S aid agencies “fosters global stability, alleviates suffering, and promotes the well-being of communities in need.” The letter ends with a request that the President rescind the Executive Order and “consider that the call to assist others in crisis is a moral obligation of both national and spiritual dimensions.”
4. On February 11, 2025, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) at Georgetown Law filed a lawsuit on behalf of over two dozen Christian and Jewish religious denominations and associations in response to the current Administration’s rescission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “sensitive locations” policy that had restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting immigration raids, arrests, and other enforcement actions at houses of worship. Lead counsel for the plaintiffs stated that this religiously diverse group of plaintiffs “have come together to file this suit because their scripture, teaching, and traditions offer irrefutable unanimity on their religious obligation to embrace and serve the refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants in their midst without regard to documentation or legal status.” The General Commission on Religion and Race of the UMC, and the North Georgia, the Western North Carolina, and the New York Annual Conferences of the UMC are all parties to this lawsuit.
5. The Council of Bishops also released a “Call to Prayer and Support for Ukraine” on February 21, 2025, the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this document, the Bishops “urged all United Methodists around the world to continue to pray for and support The United Methodist Church of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine.” The document continues by saying “[w]e pray for God’s intervention to end the violence and lead the nations’ leaders toward justice, so that peace may prevail, communities be restored, and families reunited.”
6. On February 24, 2025, The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church issued a statement against the proposed dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). In issuing the statement, GBHEM stated that eliminating the DOE “would harm the nation’s commitment to education, especially programs at the DOE that often provide resources essential for the success of the nation’s schools, educators and students”. GBHEM expressed particular concern for students in underserved communities, as “scholarships provided through the DOE have long played a crucial role in ensuring student achievement in school and the potential for their lifelong success after graduation.” GBHEM anchored its support for education in the precepts of John Wesley and in the Social Principles, which “describe the [UMC’s] continuing commitment to the importance of education as a fundamental human right. These principles forcefully encourage and promote efforts to eliminate barriers to education, such as poverty, discrimination and inadequate resources.” GBHEM further stated that “to dismantle the DOE and the vital student financial aid programs that it oversees would undermine the fundamental principles of justice and opportunity, disproportionately harming students who rely on educational opportunities and standards of excellence across the nation to break cycles of poverty and systemic inequity. It would also hurt the U.S. economy.” Especially given the long history of the UMC’s support for education for all through scholarships and through UMC-related schools, colleges, and universities, GBHEM believes that the UMC “cannot remain silent in the face of such a fundamental threat to the common good. We urge the preservation of the Department of Education, including its invaluable programs, as a defender of equal opportunity and a reflection of our shared belief that all people – created in the image of God — deserve the chance to grow in wisdom, grace and knowledge. We must not diminish our collective capacity to seek truth and advocate for justice. To compromise education is to forsake our future.”
The Glenn Justice Team is grateful to witness the United Methodist Church living out its Social Principles in response to actions that may cause harm to those we are called by Christ to love.