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Mindful of the tradition in which we stand, we see the struggle for human rights for all people of God to be a continuous unfolding of the gospel. It is an unfinished task. Our participation in this struggle means that we must identify those principalities and powers that militate against the worth of persons and groups, that seek to devalue life by denying basic rights, or that claim an ultimacy for themselves rather than for the persons they are designed to serve.

We affirm that all persons and groups are of equal worth in the sight of God. We therefore work toward societies in which each person's or group's worth is recognized, maintained, and strengthened. We deplore all political and economic ideologies that lead to repression or totalitarianism, that pit persons against each other, that deny hope, that seek to enhance privilege and power of the few at the expense and well-being of the many. We condemn violations of human rights in all political and economic structures. The church, while proclaiming the gospel message of a God of love and justice, must be weary lest it compromise its own witness and unwittingly become an uncritical ally of repressive power and privilege in society about it.

As United Methodists throughout the world give more attention to human rights, we must constantly examine or change our own practices in every locale where the basic rights of persons or groups may have been denied. The church in each community should be the means for removing the blindness from our eyes so that we perceive rights denied and redress imperfections.

Often the relationship of one country to another has been dictated by military and economic interests which tend to shape foreign policy and override moral imperatives to defend human rights. The church. should not sanction nor should foreign governments support those governments or regimes that deny people the right of

speech, assembly, dissent, education, health, worship, or other rights.

Therefore we urge:

1. That The United Methodist Church on all levels continually examine the biblical and theological bases which call us to our own commitment to human rights.

2. That The United Methodist Church urge governments to cease all financial, military, open, or covert support of those governments or regimes that systematically violate the rights of their citizens.

3. That The United Methodist Church urge governments, nationally, regionally, and locally, to accord basic human rights to all persons residing within their boundaries regardless of citizenship. These rights include the rights to an education, adequate health care, due process and redress of law, and protection against social and economic exploitation.

4. That United Methodist agencies join in efforts ecumenical, denominational, or international-on behalf of human rights, informing our people of developments in the struggles and offering them means of constructive responses.

5. That The United Methodist Church designate human rights as a continuing study emphasis to be carried on in every local church utilizing in part the Social Principles and materials published in 1979 by the National Council of Churches and the Board of Global Ministries for the study theme, "Human Rights and the International Order."

6. That a network be established across United Methodism of Intercessors for Human Rights. This network could consist of individuals and groups within congregations, districts, annual conferences, and agencies who would commit themselves to intercession by study and prayer for individuals and groups whose rights have been denied or abused and to intercession by advocacy in their behalf to the govern

ments. Such a network shall be initiated and serviced cooperatively by the Board of Church and Society and the Board of Global Ministries. (We commend Amnesty International as a resource.)

7. That United Methodists call upon their governments to ratify and implement the human rights covenants and conventions approved by the United Nations and that we work together toward this end. When the constitution or laws of a country guarantee more rights for its citizens than are provided under these treaties, ratification should not be understood to require that the protection of these rights be ended.

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