wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 36

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)]

Reply-to: owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)
"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (370
notes).

Note 369 modified by UMNS on Oct. 6, 1997 at 16:04 Eastern (5900 characters).

CONTACT:  Joretta Purdue  	557(10-71B){369}
		Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722  	Oct. 6, 1997

Board of Church and Society
addresses domestic, world issues

	WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- Children and their well-being was the focus of several
resolutions passed by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society here
Oct. 2-5.
	Among the many other resolutions were several addressing environmental and
justice issues. 
	In addition, two of the board work areas instructed staff to begin the
process that could lead the denominations 2000 General Conference to initiate
a boycott of Royal Dutch Shell Oil for abuses of the people and environment in
Ogoniland, Nigeria. 
	Board members lauded Congress and the Clinton administration for passing
legislation that provides $24 billion for children's health over the next five
years. The board also noted that 10 million U.S. children have no medical
coverage and urged church members to advocate for these children at the state
level and to educate their communities so that all children eligible for
Medicaid are enrolled.
	In the interest of children, the board also:
	* endorsed the America Reads Campaign for children's literacy;
	* supported the Global March Against Child Labor to begin in January 1998;
	* urged Senate hearings on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child;
	* advocated participation in the Silent March on Washington on Oct. 18 to
recognize October as Domestic Violence Month.
	Randi Goldstein, director of development for the U.S. Committee for UNICEF,
noted that United Methodists had given $2.6 million for UNICEF to use in
providing food, medicine and shelter to children. "Children are the most
vulnerable citizens of the world," she said, adding that although 35,000 die
each year of preventable diseases, the number was double that only a
generation ago.
	Board members approved support of the "Stop Killing Kids" Campaign of the
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. The campaign seeks to deter
efforts to lower the age at which juvenile offenders may face trial as adults
and the death penalty.
	The board supported permanent extension of the Immigration Nationality Act to
allow thousands of immigrants to await determination of their status while
they remain in this country. Enforcement of the New Immigration Act passed in
1996 would require their returning to their country of origin for periods of
at least three or 10 years. Since each family affected has one member with
legal U.S. residence, families would be split for an extended time, board
staff explained.
	In the area of environmental justice, the board of directors recommended
reauthorization of the Superfund, which requires industry polluters to clean
up hazardous waste sites, and authorized joining the Endangered Species
Coalition, which works to protect the Endangered Species Act and to strengthen
its implementation. 
	The board voted to join the Alliance for United Nations Sustainable
Development Programs, a network that seeks poverty reduction, food security,
sustainable livelihoods, environmental protection and equality of opportunity.
	Board members also endorsed a program to encourage the use of less toxic
alternatives in hospitals and to better manage the disposal of medical waste.
	The board affirmed participation in the celebration of the 50th anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while grieving the refusal of the
U.S. government to ratify conventions on rights of the child and elimination
of discrimination against women and other human rights instruments.
	In other actions, the board did the following:
	* adopted a statement urging restoration of protections included in the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was struck down earlier this year by
the U.S. Supreme Court;
	* went on record as opposing the McConnell-Canady "Civil Rights Act of 1997"
on the grounds that it would eliminate 30 years of bipartisan civil rights
enforcement and the use of affirmative action to remedy past discrimination;
	* heard Richard Riley, secretary of the U.S. Department of Education;
	* agreed to seek membership in the Coalition for an International Criminal
Court;
	* endorsed the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines, and thereby also endorsed the
international campaign;
	* supported the Jubilee 2000 Campaign, which would forgive unrepayable
international debt burdening developing countries;
	* subscribed to a statement on citing theological reasons for a revision in
the international "structural adjustment" and other economic measures that
have brought increased hardship to the poor;
	* lauded translation of the denomination's Social Principles into Polish;
	* endorsed the administration's Welfare to Work Coalition to Sustain Success
and the Jobs and Justice in Coal Mining Communities program of the Citizens
Coal Council; 
	* authorized efforts to make sure that all vendors used by the board are
listed with Project Equality.
	The board announced the opening of a legislative hotline for legislative
alerts, resources and analysis. The number is (800) 455-2645.
	Progress on the board's building renovation campaign was reported, including
a project budget, a financing plan and authorization of an agreement with a
specific contractor. The Rev. Jeffrey N. Stinehelfer, a United Church of
Christ clergyman, is leading the fund-raising campaign.
	The board agreed not to hold its semi-annual meeting in March 1998 because
the staff will be involved at that time in relocating temporarily while the
United Methodist Building undergoes a major renovation. The next meeting of
the full board is scheduled for Oct. 1-4, 1998, with the possibility,
suggested by some members that the meeting be extended a day to allow time for
work that would have been done at a spring meeting.
	President of the board is Bishop Charles Wesley Jordan of the Iowa Area.
	#  #  #

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