Social Justice

The Rev. Martinez, a founding member of the National Hispanic Caucus in The United Methodist Church and a denomination-wide advocate with Hispanic/Latino people, was elected as bishop in the South Central Jurisdiction in 1992, retiring in 2008. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops; graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: Pioneers in Methodism — Bishop Joel Martinez

Bishop Joel Martinez, having grown up in a Methodist family of farm workers, has been a life long advocate for migrant and farm workers in all of his roles of leadership in The United Methodist Church.

Ecumenism

Participants pray during a service for peace and reunification between South and North Korea at St. Stephan Church in Karlsruhe, Germany, as part of the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

World Council of Churches works for just peace

On the final day of the 11th General Assembly, delegates adopted numerous documents, including statements on peace.

Ecumenism

Faith leaders from around the world join together during the closing prayer service for the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany. From right are: The Rev. Heike Springhart of the Evangelical Church in Germany, Bishop Abraham Mar Paulos of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Metropolitan Zacariah Mar Nicholovos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, United Methodist Bishops Sally Dyck and Mary Ann Swenson from the U.S., and the Rev. Hyuk Cho of the United Church of Canada. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

WCC General Assembly closes with call to ‘act for justice’

At the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, around 3,000 participants from 120 countries met to discuss the future direction of ecumenism.

Social Concerns

Members and supporters of the Coalition of Immokalee (Fla.) Workers pray in Nashville, Tenn., at the conclusion of a protest against the Publix supermarket chain's refusal to join a farm workers' rights labor program. The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church demands that employers "treat farm workers and their families with dignity and respect.” Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Ask The UMC: Does the church support workers' rights?

The United Methodist Church supports workers' rights in a heritage that goes back to early Methodism in England.

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