The Social Creed and Social Principles

The Social Principles

The Social Principles are a prayerful and thoughtful effort on the part of the General Conference to speak to the human issues in the contemporary world from a biblical and theological foundation as historically demonstrated in United Methodist traditions. They are a call to faithfulness and are intended to be instructive and persuasive in the best of the prophetic spirit; however, they are not church law. The Social Principles can be found in the 2004 United Methodist Book of Discipline, Section IV, page 95-125.

The Social Creed

The United Methodist Social Creed is a set of affirmations concerning the denomination's beliefs about the relationship of the church to the social issues and the world. The Social Creed is approved by the General Conference as part of a larger document, the Social Principles, and the action of the General Conference recommends that the Social Creed be used frequently in Sunday worship services.

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 God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.

We affirm the natural world as God’s 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 racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.

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 God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.

From the 2004 United Methodist Book of Discipline, ¶166

First produced in 1908, the Methodist Social Creed was created to stand against child labor and support for the rights of workers, better workplace conditions, better wages and worker safety.

Over time, the Creed has was expanded and renamed the Social Principles, which include statements on political values, human rights, economic life, the environment and other aspects of social justice and ministry. The Social Principles conclude with "Our Social Creed."

To encourage congregations throughout the denomination to make the regular reading of the Social Creed part of worship services, the Social Creed was revised in 1972.