Seven Principles of Christian Social Justice

1. The Dignity of the Human Person

1.1. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and hence every human life is sacred and has an
inherent dignity.
1.2. The measure of any institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

2. The Call to Family and Community
2.1. We are social beings and have the right and duty to participate in society and seek together the common good
and well-being of all.
2.2. The family is the central social institution, and must be supported and strengthened.

3. Rights and Responsibilities
3.1. Every person has a fundamental right to life and all those things needed for human dignity.
3.2. Every person in turn has a responsibility to each other, to their family, and to the larger society to assure that
these rights are preserved and protected for all.

4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
4.1. Scripture tells us that God has a preferential concern for the poor and vulnerable, and it instructs us to put the
needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
4.2. A basic moral measure of a society is how its most vulnerable members are faring.

5. The Dignity of Work
5.1. All work has inherent dignity, for it is a way we participate in God's continuing creation.
5.2. Every person has a right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and form unions, to private
property, and to economic initiative.
5.3. An economy must serve people, not the other way around.

6. Solidarity
6.1. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they live.
6.2. We are one human family. "Loving our neighbor" has global dimensions in an interdependent world.

7. Care for God's Creation
7.1. We are the stewards of God's creation.
7.2. We are therefore called to protect our planet and the natural blessings and resources it provides for all people
and generations.

These 7 principles are derived from the document Seven Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching, United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1999.
http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/our-social-creed 1/2
Our 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 Gods gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.
We affirm the natural world as Gods 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 all persons.
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 Gods 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 Companion Litany to Our Social Creed
God in the Spirit revealed in Jesus Christ,
calls us by grace
to be renewed in the image of our Creator,
that we may be one
in divine love for the world.
Today is the day
God cares for the integrity of creation,
wills the healing and wholeness of all life,
weeps at the plunder of earths goodness.
And so shall we.
Today is the day
God embraces all hues of humanity,
delights in diversity and difference,
favors solidarity transforming strangers into friends.
And so shall we.
Today is the day
God cries with the masses of starving people,
despises growing disparity between rich and poor,
demands justice for workers in the marketplace.
And so shall we.
8/25/2014 Our Social Creed - The United Methodist Church
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Today is the day
God deplores violence in our homes and streets,
rebukes the worlds warring madness,
humbles the powerful and lifts up the lowly.
And so shall we.
Today is the day
God calls for nations and peoples to live in peace,
celebrates where justice and mercy embrace,
exults when the wolf grazes with the lamb.
And so shall we.
Today is the day
God brings good news to the poor,
proclaims release to the captives,
gives sight to the blind, and
sets the oppressed free.
And so shall we.
From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2012. Copyright 2012 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by
permission.