| Florida churches, conference take on social issues
By Michael Wacht
ORLANDO — While delegations of United
Methodist bishops visit Washington, D.C., trying to bring public
policy in line with denominational principles, United Methodist clergy
and laity from Florida are tackling tough regional and state issues
with the same goal in mind.
Members of the conference’s Church and Society
ministry team are involved in direct action and support local churches
in their attempts to address the root causes of social issues,
according to Alma Manney.
Manney is the Church and Society team’s Peace
with Justice chairperson and a member of Grace United Methodist Church
here.
She said that for the past two years, Church and
Society has been primarily involved in helping local churches address
issues of hatred, tolerance and violence. A resolution passed at the
2000 Florida Annual Conference Event called on the team to develop a
plan to help churches respond to hate groups. As a result, the team
created a resource packet and Bible study that were sent to all local
churches.
The Florida Conference team also worked with
Church and Society teams from the Southeastern Jurisdiction and
general church to put together the “Confronting the Seeds of Hatred,
Intolerance and Violence” workshops in Birmingham, Ala., this
summer. Manney said at least eight representatives from Florida are
attending. She hopes local churches will send representatives.
Church and Society also distributes the funds
received during the annual Peace with Justice Sunday offering. Manney
said 50 percent of the money collected stays in the Florida Conference
and is distributed back to local churches in the form of grants that
support ministries targeting the root causes of social issues.
Manney said few Florida Conference churches are
involved in social justice ministries because it often takes several
years and a lot of energy focused on one issue to make a difference.
Most take on missions of mercy.
“There’s a difference between mercy and
justice,” she said. “Justice goes a step beyond and gets at the
root causes.”
Manney said an example of a mercy ministry is
helping older adults get transportation to the doctor’s office and
pay for prescriptions that are too expensive for them. “Justice
ministry would be working with the health care, insurance and drug
industries to make things more affordable for the elderly,” she
said.
Other issues Florida United Methodists have
addressed are the state’s death penalty and a living wage for
workers.
Through the Churches in Action program, the
Church and Society team recognizes churches involved in justice
ministries and provides help and resources to those striving to get
involved.
|
