wfn.org | United Methodists push efforts regarding hate crimes

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Oct. 2, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-21-71B{447}

NOTE:  This is a sidebar to UMNS stories #445 and 446.		

By United Methodist News Service

The United Methodist General Conference, the denomination's highest
legislative body, approved several resolutions on hate crimes when it met in
Cleveland last May.

One of the resolutions added a new sentence to the denomination's Social
Principles: "We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons
based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation
or economic status."

A resolution on "Hate Crimes in the United States," sponsored by the Women's
Division, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, calls upon the
church's boards and agencies to:

·	Provide biblically based resources for adults and youth that address
hate crimes and violence.
·	Track hate crimes through news media and other sources.
·	Create resources to help United Methodists analyze the language of
intolerance among groups that use religious language and emotionally charged
images.
·	Engage in a media campaign to promote tolerance and to report hate
crimes.
·	Advocate for federal and state hate-crime legislation.
·	Push for congressional hearings and state task forces on hate
crimes.
·	Educate church members not to be silent about hate. 

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United Methodist News Service
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