The Social Creed of the United Methodist Church has many antecedents from the denominations that form it. Most were formulated around the beginning of the 20th Century. In its current form, the Social Creed reads:We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.
We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.
We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.
We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.
We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.
We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.
We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.
If you could change anything about the UMC Social Creed, what would it be?
6 comments:
Actually, I believe the creed will be changed in 2008 - it is the 100 year anniversary of the original creed, which was a great deal about women's rights and labor laws - even advocated in it for a 'living wage'. I think the changes are meant to make it something that can be used more regularly in worship, but i don't know about content.
What would make it more appropriate for worship? Brevity or the inclusion of meter?
I think that most Methodists are unaware of the Social Creed's existence, which is a shame. I once taught a Bible study on it, and it took everyone by surprise. No one except the pastor knew that it was in the BoD.
(HUMOR)
In place of "We believe..." use "Some or most of us believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. Everyone else believes it is a good philosophy wrapped in myth and fun campfire tales."
Use: "We affirm the natural world as Darwin explained it and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement in faithful Celtic tradition. We seek to defend nature against anything the Bush administration says or does - even though he is a Methodist."
Add: "We dedicate ourselves to Allah throughout the world, to the rule of Sharia among nations, and to individual freedom for the Taliban. Oh, and Saddam Hussein. And, and Women - with college degrees"
This too: "We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, rabbits, cats, dogs, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and religious minorities. But we do not believe this applies to fetuses or individuals with no personhood."
And this needs a tweak:
"We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality(homo or hetero), abortion, marriage, divorce and the blended family."
I believe it will be made much shorter, easier to remember, and reflective of the post-modern culture with which the UMC peacefully coexists:
"Whatever."
I hope it will be USED. (not buried in the BoD)
"We believe ... in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress."
I find this very interesting. I think it may be too political and too far removed from actual theology to be proper for a statement of Church doctrine. I had no idea that any of the mainline denominations had 'creeds' like this.
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