Our Church is a United Methodist Church. Therefore, we should embrace the Social Principles of our denomination, knowing they are not the personal ideas of one pastor or a single congregation, but the result of prayerful and thoughtful discernment by the whole body. Even when they are not law for our denomination, these principles are adopted by both lay and clergy delegates at our General Conference as a dream for our society, which means they represent the voice of the global United Methodist connection infront the world. They are the product of years of dialogue, study, and prayer, and they reflect the collective wisdom of our tradition.
It is important to remember that even if we may not agree with every point, and even if we have reasons and arguments for or against certain parts, the Church has taken seriously the biblical, theological, hermeneutical, and exegetical work behind them. This is not a quick or casual statement. It is a reflection of who we are as a Church before the world, grounded in Scripture and shaped by our heritage. The Social Principles are built using the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which means we approach the Word of God through the lenses of Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. From this balanced and disciplined approach, people across our global connection have engaged in careful study and honest dialogue to reach these agreements.
The Social Principles 2020–2024 (now continuing into 2025–2028) are the result of the first complete revision in more than fifty years. The process began in 2012 and took eight years of global consultations, listening to voices from every part of our Church, from the United States to the Central Conferences around the world.
The goal was to produce a document that speaks to the realities of our time while remaining faithful to our biblical and theological foundations.
The Social Principles are organized into four broad sections that reflect the scope of our witness. The first is the Community of All Creation, where we affirm the sacred worth of every human being and the call to care for the earth as God’s good creation. It calls us to stewardship, protection of natural resources, and justice for those most affected by environmental harm. The second is the Economic Community, where we speak about fairness, equity, and justice in the ways resources are shared and opportunities are made available. This section challenges economic systems that exploit and marginalize and urges us to advocate for policies that promote dignity and sustainability.
The third is the Social Community, where we affirm the dignity, value, and inclusion of all people. Here, important and historic changes have been made, including the removal of the statement that “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” and a new definition of marriage as a sacred lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith into union with one another and into deeper relationship with God and the community of faith. The fourth is the Political Community, where we affirm the importance of civic responsibility, human rights, and the pursuit of justice for the common good, calling us to be active participants in building societies that protect the vulnerable and promote peace.
Together, these principles form a vision for how we seek to live out our faith in the world. They are not meant to replace personal conviction or local ministry, but to guide us as a Church in offering a consistent witness of God’s love and justice. They remind us that we are part of something larger than ourselves, a worldwide community called to love God and neighbor in ways that are concrete, courageous, and compassionate.
In our congregation, our statement of welcome is not just a kind sentiment but a reflection of this same spirit. It is rooted in the values of the United Methodist Church and in the vision set forth by the Social Principles. When we say that all are welcome, we mean it as a theological commitment, grounded in Scripture and shaped by our tradition, to honor the sacred worth of every person and to embody God’s inclusive love. By embracing these principles, we commit ourselves to being a community where welcome is not simply spoken but lived, where justice and compassion are practiced, and where the love of Christ is extended to all without exception.
Warmly,
Rev. David A Gaitan
