CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL STATMENTS - UNITED METHODIST

Criminal Justice and Capital Punishment

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/issues/issues.php?topic=Capital+Punishment

The United Methodist Church has “oppose capital punishment and urge its elimination from all criminal codes" (Social Principles, 164A). When another life is taken through capital punishment, the life of the victim is further devalued.

Recent methods for selecting the few persons sentenced to die from among the larger number who are convicted of comparable offenses have not cured the arbitrariness and discrimination that have historically marked the administration of capital punishment in this country.

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/issues/resolutions.php?resolutionid=6

In spite of a common assumption to the contrary, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" does not give justification for the imposing of the penalty of death. Jesus explicitly repudiated the lex talionis (Matthew 5:38-39), and the Talmud denies its literal meaning and holds that it refers to financial indemnities.

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/otfp/april2000-3.php

The United Methodist Church cannot accept retribution or social vengeance as a reason for taking human life. It violates our deepest belief in God as the Creator and Redeemer of humankind.

Center Priorities (.pdf)

Bulletin Inserts
Child Support (.pdf)
Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

Policy Briefs
EITC (.doc)
TANF Child Support (.doc)
Payday Loans (.doc)
Healing Creation (.doc)
Child Ombudsman (.doc)
Affordable Housing (.doc)
Indigent Defense (.doc)
Minimum Wage (.doc)
Wage & EITC (.doc)
VA Tribes (.link)

Actions
Lending Petition (link)
Title Petition (link)
Wage Petition (link)

Reports
Budget Analysis (.pdf)
Food Stamps (.doc)
Lottery Study (link)

FAQ's (link)

Your donation helps the Interfaith Center advocate for a more compassionate Commonwealth. Your gifts support trainings, advocacy, community programs, and briefing development. Get involved and begin to Learn Pray and Act with us. Together we can!