wfn.org | UCC/Synod resolutions to focus on economic injustice

[powellb@ucc.org]

June 27, 1997
United Church of Christ
Laurie Bartels, press contact (Cleveland)
(216) 736-2213
E-mail:  bartelsl@ucc.org
Press Room, July 3-8
Room C110, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio
(614) 722-1216
On the Web:  http://www.ucc.org

[This is one in a series of releases previewing the
United Church of Christ's 1997 General Synod.  Other
agenda items are covered in previous and coming
releases.  The Synod will draw an estimated 3,000
people, including some 700 voting delegates from 39
regional bodies of the denomination.  On moral, social
and theological matters, the biennial Synod speaks to,
and not for, the UCC's 1.5 million members and 6,100
local churches.  News coverage is welcome.  For
information, call the Cleveland number above.  During
the General Synod, news will be updated twice daily on
a special Synod section of the UCC home page (Web
address above).]

Proposed resolutions to national church meeting focus
on economic injustice, urge reform

COLUMBUS, Ohio--Several proposed resolutions to be
voted on by delegates to the United Church of Christ's
biennial General Synod, July 3-8 in Columbus, focus on
a wide range of imbalances experienced by a growing
number of "have nots" in the current economic climate.
      The emphasis of these resolutions is to "level
the playing field" for those unable to compete due to
what is seen by some as an atmosphere of intolerance
for people who are poor and increasing benefits for
people who are wealthy.
      General Synod delegates will consider these
issues:

      *  equitable access to computer information,
education and training;
      *  more inclusive economic policies;
      *  the role of government as protector of the
common good;
      *  the influence of "soft money" in campaign
financing; and
      *  an expected "new business" item on the
Security and Exchange Commission's exclusion of
employment policy decisions from proxy statements.

Equal access to new technology

      The proposed resolution, "Access to the Age of
Computer Information," asks, "Will the information
superhighway be a freeway or a tollway?"  It cites the
growing disparity between those with the resources to
benefit from an "information rich" society and those
without those resources.  The resolution states that
"at least 80 percent of the world's population still
lack the most basic telecommunications" and warns of
an impending "information poverty" which would create
an even larger imbalance in educational and employment
opportunities and quality of life.
      The resolution calls on all settings of the
church to monitor the quality and content of
information and programming that various media and
technologies offer.  It calls the church to advocate
for full access to that technology for all people, and
for diversity in ownership of businesses related to
the creation and delivery of such technology.  The
resolution also calls on local churches to act in
their communities to "insure that all students receive
education and skills needed to make use of new
technology."  It urges them to become media and
training centers as a resource to people and
communities who are economically disadvantaged as part
of the UCC's "The Church as a Safe Space" program.
      In addition, the proposed resolution calls on
the UCC's Office of Communication and Office for
Church in Society to monitor federal regulatory
legislation to insure the inclusion of people of color
and people who are economically disadvantaged.

Affirming Government's Role to Protect the Common Good

      Another proposed resolution affirms the
government's role as lawmaker and enforcer of laws,
but urges fair, appropriate and efficient regulation
of the U.S. justice system in the interest of the
common good.
      The resolution calls on all settings of the UCC
to support the government in this role, despite the
current anti-regulatory climate, and to "seek to
challenge, reform and support our current governments
in the pursuit of the integrity of creation, justice
and peace."  The resolution offers guidelines to
ensure that laws, legislation, enforcement practices
and penalties are equally implemented in a timely and
just manner.

Other Economic Issues

      A proposed resolution submitted by the UCC's
regional Connecticut Conference emphasizes that a lack
of trust in the integrity of the U.S. election process
has been fueled partly by an inequitable system for
financing political campaigns.  The current system
allows businesses and special interest groups to
contribute twice as much as individuals, thereby
giving the appearance -- if not the occurrence -- of
impropriety in the legislative process.  The
resolution supports "legislation which seeks more
equitable campaign financing through, but not limited
to, the establishment of a voluntary fund" from which
candidates would equally receive funding and through a
significantly reduced cap on contributions.  It
encourages individual church members to support
passage of such campaign finance reform legislation.
      Another proposed resolution, "Affirming
Democratic Principles in an Emerging Global Economy,"
reaffirms the UCC's heritage as "an advocate for just,
democratic, participatory and inclusive economic
policies" in private and public sectors and its work
in speaking out for a "biblically based and just
approach" to national and international economic
relationships.
      The resolution points out the responsibility of
not only religious bodies, but governments,
businesses, financial and educational institutions,
unions, workers and individuals in protecting
fundamental human rights and the integrity of
creation.  The resolution states that economic reform
is necessary in order to "nurture life, restore
justice, and become effective stewards of creation."

Resolution expected opposing S.E.C. policy

      In addition to planned business, it is expected
that a proposed resolution opposing a new Securities
Exchange Commission policy will be introduced to the
General Synod as "new business".
      The policy in question prohibits corporate
stockholders from using a strategy known as "proxy
statements" to raise concerns regarding
discrimination, fair wages and sweatshop conditions.
      The S.E.C. policy was announced in 1992 as part
of a "no action" letter to Cracker Barrel Old Country
Stores, which stated that "employment policies and
practices" for companies' "general workforce"
constitutes "ordinary business."  This classification
removed investors' rights to sponsor resolutions on
these issues.
      The United Church of Christ and other religious
organizations have used their shareholdings in U.S.
corporations to start dialogue for social change and,
during the 1980's, to help convince U.S. firms to
remove interests in South Africa in order to topple
apartheid.
      The expected Synod resolution would call upon
church investors at the local, regional and national
settings to protest this policy to the S.E.C. and
Congress.
      
      The United Church of Christ, with national
offices in Cleveland, has local congregations in the
United States and Puerto Rico.  It was formed by the
1957 union of the Congregational Christian Churches
and the Evangelical and Reformed Church.
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