Craig Hudson Sipa USA via AP
118th Congress
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., addresses the House of Representatives after winning the 15th ballot to become Speaker of the House in the early morning hours of the fifth day of the 118th Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 07, 2023. (Photo by Craig Hudson/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
General Board of Church and Society | Dec. 10, 2024
From advocating on Capitol Hill to collaborating with annual conferences and Washington, D.C. coalitions, United Methodists raised their voices to ensure those in power heard our calls to live into the mission of transforming the world.
Going into the next administration and the 119th Congress, we are taking a moment to reflect on actions of engagement for the UMC connection and the U.S. Congress, while analyzing best methods for future impact and results.
Below are results and stories from across Church and Society advocacy portfolio areas in 2024, showcasing the social witness work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace.
Civil and Human Rights
Civil and human rights issues were uplifted while developing relationships with Congressional offices. Through relational building and sharing the work of GBCS along with the recently passed Social Principles, we were able to schedule and maintain ties with Congressional staff members and their offices, Methodist and non-Methodist alike.
GBCS collaborated with the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference and Strengthening Black Churches for the 21st Century (SBC21) on the Sacred Voters Toolkit. This toolkit provided tools to advance the civic witness of United Methodists during and after the 2024 election. Nearly 200 people participated in GBCS’ Sacred Voters webinar. Efforts to develop UMC Election Ambassadors and Poll Chaplains proved fruitful with 20 identified leaders in multiple states, including Pennsylvania and Maryland establishing stronger civic engagement.
Through GBCS’ Faith in Action website blog, we posted topics ranging from immigration rights to white Christian Nationalism and protecting democracy. These writings aided in speaking opportunities in the Iowa Annual Conference and other corners of the Church to help audiences understand critical civil rights issues.
Economic, Health, and Gender Justice
By way of the Grace Over Greed Campaign, United Methodists sent over 11,000 messages to the House and Senate. Throughout the appropriations process, this collective advocacy helped to protect social safety programs against spending cuts for the 2025 fiscal year.
GBCS assisted with advocacy efforts in support of an expanded Child Tax Credit. Through action alerts from United Methodists, coalition partnership, and seminars like Wednesday Witness, an expanded Child Tax Credit was included in the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 which was passed by the House.
By way of the Economic, Health, and Gender Justice portfolio, GBCS sponsored 19 events. In partnership with Sojourners, GBCS facilitated “Embracing Mamas, Embracing Life” which uplifted the sanctity, struggle, and stories of mothers as co-creators with the Divine. This series produced three webinars, a social media toolkit for Black Maternal Health Week 2024, and a bill summary of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.
Environmental Justice
GBCS attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change climate negotiations in Dubai, UAE in 2023 and Baku, Azerbaijan in 2024. In 2023, faith-based advocates successfully advocated for the establishment of a Loss and Damage fund with the U.S. State Department.
We petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to pass strong methane rules, including a ban on routine flaring, a waste emissions charge for excess emissions from oil and gas producers, and stronger standards for soot pollution. These common sense updates to the EPA’s air emissions regulations will have an immediate and lasting impact on our climate and air quality.
GBCS issued 17 action alerts during the 118th Congress, reaching more than 1500 United Methodists across the connection. We created opportunities to educate elected officials, official delegations, and clergy.
Peace With Justice
GBCS helped to coordinate Korea Peace Advocacy Week 2024, where more than 140 participants from across the United States, including United Methodists, met with 77 Representatives and Senators to advocate for Korea peace legislation. At least four members of Congress cosponsored the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act because of this advocacy.
United Methodists sent more than 1,200 emails to their Senators to support Senator Bernie Sanders’ resolution requiring the Biden administration to investigate and confront human rights violations in Gaza. This faithful witness - in coordination with advocacy efforts from Washington, D.C. coalitions - contributed to 12 Senators voting in support.
The United Methodist building hosted Brandon Lee, a human rights activist who was shot by the Philippines military in 2019. Advocates met with seven Senate offices before his visit to raise awareness about Brandon’s case and oppose the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act. The “Justice for Brandon Lee” coalition also hosted a briefing in the House of Representatives.
For more information on the work of the General Board of Church and Society, visit the “latest news” or “Action Alerts” at www.umcjustice.org. Church and Society enacts the social justice policies adopted by the United Methodist General Conference, the only body authorized to speak for the entire denomination.