Social Principles: “The Social Principles are not church law. Instead, they represent the prayerful and earnest efforts of the General Conference to speak to issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation that is in keeping with the best of our UMC traditions. The Social Principles are thus a call to faithfulness and to social engagement and are intended to be instructive and persuasive in the best of the prophetic spirit. Moreover, they challenge all members of UMC to engage in deliberative reflection and encourage intentional dialogue between faith and practice.” (From the preface to the UMC Social Principles)
General Board of Church and Society: The purpose of the board shall be to relate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the members of the Church and to the persons and structures of the communities and world in which they live. It shall seek to bring the whole of human life, activities, possessions, use of resources, and community and world relationships into conformity with the will of God. It shall show the members of the Church and the society that the reconciliation that God effected through Christ involves personal, social, and civic righteousness.” From the United Methodist Book of Discipline.