General Board of Church and Society Resources
Click HERE for resources from the General Board of Church and Society, including:
Church and Society Grant
Click HERE to obtain a Church and Society grant application form for a Peace with Justice Grant.
Social Principles Worship Resources
The General Board of Church and Society offers a number of resources for teaching the Social Principles through worship on its website. Visit the GBCS website Resources area for bulletin inserts, worship materials and justice and lectionary resources.
United Methodist Social Creed
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.
(It is recommended that this statement of Social Principles be continually available to United Methodist Christians and that it be emphasized regularly in every congregation. It is further recommended that "Our Social Creed" be frequently used in Sunday worship.)
A litany was approved to be added to the Social Principles in an effort to make the United Methodist Social Creed more accessible for use during worship. Learn about this tool and Social Principles' background information.
The Community Tool Box Resource
The Community Tool Box at the University of Kansas partners nationally and internationally to continually identify what people might need to know to build healthier and more equitable communities. The purpose of the Community Tool Box is to build capacity for this work: to make it easier for people to bring about change and improvement in their communities. This tool connects people with resources for learning the many skills required for this work and applying this knowledge in diverse cultures and contexts.
The Community Tool Box uses the Internet to deliver free information to those doing and supporting community work around the world. Practical information about building leadership, evaluation, or other topics is a click away. The Community Tool Box provides access to information on demand, not just when a training workshop happens to be scheduled.
Center for New Community
The mission of the Center for New Community is to revitalize community toward democracy, justice and racial equality - because everyone matters.
The Center believes that the faith community must be especially intent on developing and living out new relationships that lead to ongoing acts of community - building and organizing to address contemporary social, economic and racial justice problems.
Toward that end -- from the Great Plains to the Great Lakes, from the rolling prairies to the southern mountains, in village, small town and city alike -- the work of the Center for New Community is being seeded and rooted.
The Center’s vision of new community will be made real only through the participation and engagement of many people, congregations, parishes, organizations and communities. The journey we have begun is long and difficult. It requires a sustained commitment. But the journey must be undertaken. People of faith and good will must join together at last to build the just and beloved community and to create a new democratic spirit that lights the way for generations to come.
We invite you to join us in that journey. We invite you to be part of the Center for New Community. Contact us today to find out how.
The Center for New Community is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt organization supported by gifts and contributions from individuals, families, the religious community and foundations. Click HERE to visit their website.
Kansas Action for Children
Choose the "take action" feature at the Kansas Action for Children Web site. Be up-to-date concerning priorities for children and how to have a voice about matters which protect children. Subscribe to weekly email updates during the Kansas Legislative Session, receive the monthly newsletter year round, and access much more valuable information.
Environmental Issue Resources
Resources for environmental issues are the Interfaith Power and Light (a global organization with many resources including the Cool Congregations' program) and the Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition (a greater Kansas City partnership to encourage and assist groups). Both offer ways for faith-based groups to advocate ecological justice for all creation. These groups have e-news publications available for subscribers.