Social Creed

[What follows is a statement of the "Social Creed" of the United Methodist Church.  I find it inspirational.  Reactions? LJ] 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 all persons. 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. A Companion Litany to Our Social Creed God in the Spirit revealed in Jesus Christ, calls us by grace         to be renewed in the image of our Creator,         that we may be one         in divine love for the world.        Today is the day God cares for the integrity of creation,         wills the healing and wholeness of all life,         weeps at the plunder of earth’s goodness. And so shall we. Today is the day God embraces all hues of humanity,          delights in diversity and difference,          favors solidarity transforming strangers into friends. And so shall we.   Today is the day God cries with the masses of starving people,         despises growing disparity between rich and poor,         demands justice for workers in the marketplace. And so shall we. Today is the day God deplores violence in our homes and streets,          rebukes the world’s warring madness,          humbles the powerful and lifts up the lowly. And so shall we. Today is the day God calls for nations and peoples to live in peace,          celebrates where justice and mercy embrace,          exults when the wolf grazes with the lamb. And so shall we. Today is the day God brings good news to the poor,         proclaims release to the captives,         gives sight to the blind, and         sets the oppressed free. And so shall we.  From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2008. Copyright 2008 by The United Methodist Publishing House.