The Social Principles serve as the United Methodist Church’s official summary of stated convictions on social issues of the day.
First adopted by the 1972 General Conference, the Social Principles document stands in the Wesleyan tradition of forthright moral witness and ethical action.
Taking its inspiration and grounding from both the Evangelical United Brethren’s Moral Standards and the Methodist Episcopal Church’s social creed, the Social Principles reflect the church’s concern for both personal and social holiness in communities across the world.
After an eight year global process of revising the Social Principles in their entirety, the momentous effort was adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024. Read the Article HERE.
The Social Principles as adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024, will officially take effect January 1, 2025. Cokesbury, the United Methodist publishing house will print the updated, official UMC Social Principles booklet in 2025.
Given the numerous requests for information and study materials on the Social Principles, Church and Society’s online content offers resources for use before 2025. In 2025, Church and Society plans to produce more Social Principles resources including social witness video reels from multiple countries and more material translations.
Understand the Background and History: Read the PDF Summary Pages of the Social Principles as Adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024 (English only)
Click on the title to access the document.
Learn All the Social Principles in The PDF Booklet as Adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024 in the Following Languages.
To access the pages of the document in your language, click on the language.
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German (updated translation in progress)
Read, Discuss and Apply the Social Principles Resources for Mission and Ministry PDF Cards (English Only) Use the following questions to guide personal study or facilitate small group discussions within your church. Focus on linking the issues to your local church and community, while keeping the broader global context in mind. Explore ways to move from discussion to advocacy, moving faith into action.
- Mission and Ministry—Preface & Preamble
- Mission and Ministry—Community of All Creation
- Mission and Ministry—The Economic Community
- Mission and Ministry—The Social Community
- Mission and Ministry—The Political Community
Originally published by Church and Society. Republished with permission by ResourceUMC.