The United Methodist Church is clear in its convictions that work is a means of stewardship and God-given creativity and that all human beings deserve dignity and justice in the workplace. In early twentieth century America, poor labor conditions prompted the Methodist Church of the time to pen a social creed, spelling out the rights of workers.
At the turn of the twentieth century, the U.S. was shifting from a rural, agrarian society to an industrial economy. Children as young as four joined adults, working in factories and coal mines.
In 1908, the Methodist Church took a stand for the rights of workers with a Social Creed that called for an end to child labor, a fair wage, and safety standards.
The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, the head of The United Methodist Board of Church and Society, says that "In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt was quoting much of the content of the Social Creed. That was four years after the Social Creed had been written."
The idea of a denomination setting these ideals in writing was groundbreaking but the principles had a long history.
The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe: "Actually the predecessor bodies of The United Methodist Church had for over 100 years had statements on peace, on world order, anti-slavery, fairness for all. So our history, since the time of Wesley really, there were always statements in the Books of Discipline about the Methodist commitments to social holiness and to justice. So, it's never not been there."
This article is excerpted from United Methodist Church website. To read more at UMC dot org about our various commitments to a better world, click HERE.
Being part of a denomination that tries to apply the timeless truth of the gospel to our ever-changing circumstances is part of what makes many of us proud to #BeUMC.
|