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General Board of Church and Society

The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is a general agency of the United Methodist Church. It is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church as set out the UMC Book of Discipline. The General Board has headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Interchurch Center in New York City. There are five divisions within the GBCS: Public Witness and Advocacy, Administration, Ministry of Resourcing Congregational Life, United Nations Ministry and Communications.

Purpose

According to the 2004 Book of Discipline, the GBCS's purpose is thus stated:

1002. Purpose – The purpose of the board shall be to relate the gospel of Jesus Christ to the members of the Church and to the persons and structures of the communities and world in which they live. It shall seek to bring the whole of human life, activities, possessions, use of resources, and community and world relationships into conformity with the will of God. It shall show the members of the Church and the society that the reconciliation that God effected through Christ involves personal, social, and civic righteousness.

Spheres of Influence

There are six stated spheres of influence for the GBCS

  1. The Natural World
  2. The Nurturing Community
  3. The Social Community
  4. The Economic Community
  5. The Political Community
  6. The World Community

Social Issues

The GBCS was traditionally pro-choice and supportive of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.[1] In 2008, this was affirmed by the General Conference, but, in 2016, it voted in favor of withdrawing the United Methodist Church from the pro-choice organization.[2] The GBCS remains supportive of legal abortion in certain circumstances stating "the General Board of Church and Society continues to be an advocate for a full range of safe and legal reproductive health care – including, in certain cases, the option to safely and legally end a pregnancy."[3]

On human sexuality, the GBCS opposes discrimination or prejudice against people based on sexual orientation.[4] In 2013, the organization allowed its building, in Washington D.C., to be used by supporters of same-gender marriage.[5]

In 2019, the GBCS joined with 42 other religious and allied organizations in issuing a statement opposing Project Blitz, an effort by a coalition of Christian right organizations to influence state legislation.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Miembros de la coalición | Coalición religiosa para la elección reproductiva". rcrc.org . Archivado desde el original el 24 de mayo de 2016 . Consultado el 30 de mayo de 2016 .
  2. ^ "UMC se retira del grupo interreligioso a favor del derecho al aborto". Servicio de noticias religiosas . 21 de mayo de 2016 . Consultado el 30 de mayo de 2016 .
  3. ^ "Mantener nuestro compromiso de apoyar una vida abundante para mujeres y niñas | Junta General de la Iglesia y la Sociedad". 2016-06-03. Archivado desde el original el 3 de junio de 2016 . Consultado el 13 de junio de 2019 .
  4. ^ "162 III. La Comunidad Social | Junta General de la Iglesia y la Sociedad". umc-gbcs.org . Archivado desde el original el 16 de mayo de 2016 . Consultado el 30 de mayo de 2016 .
  5. ^ "¿El edificio metodista de DC violó las reglas de la Iglesia sobre la homosexualidad?". Correo cristiano . 27 de marzo de 2013 . Consultado el 30 de mayo de 2016 .
  6. ^ "Declaración de 43 organizaciones nacionales unidas en oposición al Proyecto Blitz y esfuerzos legislativos similares" (PDF) . Estadounidenses Unidos por la Separación de la Iglesia y el Estado . Archivado desde el original (PDF) el 4 de febrero de 2019 . Consultado el 4 de febrero de 2019 .

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