The Social Community

162 The rights and privileges a society bestows upon or withholds from those who comprise it indicate the relative esteem in which that society holds particular persons and groups of persons.

We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God. We therefore work toward societies in which each person’s value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened.

We support the basic rights of all persons to equal access to housing, education, communication, employment, medical care, legal redress for grievances, and physical protection. We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or economic status.

Rights of Racial and Ethnic Persons | Rights of Religious Minorities | Rights of Children | Rights of Young People | Rights of the Aging | Rights of Women | Rights of Persons with Disabilities | Equal Rights Regardless of Sexual Orientation | Population | Alcohol and Other Drugs | Tobacco | Medical Experimentation | Genetic Technology | Rural Life | Sustainable Agriculture | Urban-Suburban Life | Media Violence and Christian Values | Information Communication Technology | Persons Living with HIV and AIDS | Right to Health Care | Organ Transplantation and Donation

From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004. Copyright 2004 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.