Traditional: 8:15AM & 11:00AM | The Current 9:40AM

Social Justice Ministry

at St. Mark’s UMC

“Educate, advocate and engage our congregation and community on issues of social justice, using the UMC Social Principles to guide us individually and collectively in serving Christ to transform the world

“Do all the good you can; By all the means you can; In all the ways you can; In all the places you can; To all the people you can; As long as ever you can.”  John Wesley

The United Methodist Book of Discipline shares principles that set out the church’s position on social issues. The social principles are categorized into six general sections:

The Natural World

We affirm that we’re responsible for the way we use the Lord’s creation.

The Nurturing Community

We affirm the family and work to strengthen its relationships.
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The Social Community

We affirm all persons as equally valuable in God’s sight. We reject racism and assert the rights of racial minorities, religious minorities, children, youth, young adults, the aging, women, and disabled persons.

The Economic Community

All economic systems are under the judgment of God.

The Political Community

We hold governments responsible for the protection of people’s basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other.

The World Community

God’s world is one world.
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In the Spotlight

Resisting Racism

St. Mark’s Social Justice Team is leading an effort to educate and engage our congregation and community on the issues of racial justice.

“We recognize racism as sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons.”

Social Principles P162, A

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
– Galatians 3:28

While racial discrimination has been outlawed in the United States, racism remains a persistent reality in every level of society. Consider the following:

African-American Workers

earn just $57.50 in income for every $100 earned by whites and are 2X more likely to
be unemployed.

African-American Students

are 3X more likely to be suspended than white students for the same infractions.

African-Americans

make up 13% of the population, but 40% of the prison population.

Sources: Pew Research Center | U.S. Department of  Education | U.S. Department of Justice

We need your help. We need everyone’s help!

We encourage you and your family to get involved with educational, enlightening and fun activities happening right now!

Join

A class to view and discuss “13 th ” a Netflix documentary that analyzes the prison boom and
mass incarceration of people of color in the U.S.

Watch Trailer

A book discussion of “Waking Up White: Finding Myself in the Story of Race” by Debby Irving.

Pastor’s Sunday Night Study featuring “The Cross and the Lynching Tree” by James H. Cone.

Watch the bulletin and Jubilee for times and locations.

Support

Local and national efforts to support racial justice through:

Justice for Our Neighbors

The Sentencing Project

SURJ: Showing up for Racial Justice

Visit

Our Connection table to learn more about how you can learn more and advocate for racial justice in our community and nationally.