Comparison of Political Party Platforms and Living Wage

Every person has the right to a job at a living wage.

¶163.C, Social Principles
The United Methodist Church
Democratic Party Republican Party
Economic and Environmental Justice Issues Increasing minimum wage and Makes no statement regarding this
indexing it to inflation issue.

We hold governments responsible for … the guarantee of the

Budget /
rights to adequate food, clothing, shelter, education and health It is the birthright of every child of God to live a life with dignity
Government
Spending care. and access to the basic necessities of life. It is our
¶164.A, Social Principles responsibility [to]… collectively through our government, to
Social Security ensure that all God’s children are cared for through all stages of
life.
Democratic Party Republican Party
Eliminating government waste Eliminating wasteful spending Guidelines for Social Security Reform,
and programs that aren’t Adoption of Balance Budget 2008 General Conference
working Amendment
Devoting $50 billion to Implementing a 1-year pause on Democratic Party Republican Party
economic growth non-defense, non-veterans
Assisting states with funding discretionary spending Strengthen guarantee of Providing worker control over
vital services like education, benefits their contributions
Funding new programs through
health care and infrastructure. reductions in existing programs No privatization Allowing workers to invest
Increased contributions from Social Security benefits into
those making over $250,000 personal investments into
We must creatively explore all sustainable energy options personal accounts
available to us. … We believe that the economic, environmental,
and social implications of each energy source should be fully
Energy
assessed.
Energy Policy Statement, Economic and Environmental Justice
2008 General Conference
The Economic and Environmental Justice Program calls the church and society into a
Democratic Party Republican Party greater faithfulness to the biblical vision of wholeness and justice for all of God’s
Domestic production of clean Increased drilling for new oil creation.
and renewable energy through fields (offshore and onshore)
incentives Open Arctic National Wildlife For more information, please Contact John Hill at 202.488.5654 or jhill@umc-
Investing in research and Refuge for drilling gbcs.org.
development of new renewable Increase use of nuclear power
technologies (including solar, Energy tax credits
wind and geothermal) About the General Board of Church and Society
Continued coal production and
Increase automobile fuel utilization
efficiency The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is one of four international general
Reduce oil consumption by program boards of The United Methodist Church focusing on advocacy and
35% by 2030 leadership training.

Visit our website at www.umc-gbcs.org to download the comprehensive Election

Guide and other valuable resources.

Prepared by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
Comparison of Political Party Platforms and
The United Methodist Church The mistreatment or torture of persons by governments for any purpose
Torture violates Christian teaching and must be condemned and/or opposed by
Civil and Human Rights Issues Christians and churches wherever and whenever it occurs.
¶164.A, Social Principles

We believe the death penalty denies the power to redeem, Democratic Party Republican Party
restore, and transform all human beings….we oppose the death Rejects the use of torture Makes no statement regarding this
Death Penalty penalty (capital punishment) and urge its elimination from all issue.
criminal codes.
¶164.G, Social Principles In the love of Christ, who came to save those who are lost and
Criminal vulnerable, we urge the creation of a genuinely new system for the care
Justice and restoration of victims, offenders, criminal justice officials, and the
Democratic Party Republican Party Reform community as a whole.
Gun Violence,
Providing conviction review Ensuring courts have the option 2008 General Conference
processes for all death row to impose the death penalty on
cases cases of capital murder and
other heinous crimes Democratic Party Republican Party
Streamline review process for Funding strategic, and effective Makes no statement regarding this
claims of innocence and prevent community policing, issue.
delays by defense attorneys
Holding offenders accountable
Investing in crime prevention,
including initiatives that get
"We recognize, embrace and affirm all persons, regardless of
youth and nonviolent offenders
country of origin, as members of the family of God. We urge the back on track
Church and society to recognize the gifts, contributions and
Immigration struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice
for all."
Civil and Human Rights
¶162.G, Social Principles
The General Board of Church and Society advocates for the preservation of civil and
Democratic Party Republican Party human rights for all people throughout the world. The creation of humankind in God’s
own image reveals God’s value for all of human life.
Comprehensive immigration Securing borders through
reform that allows physical and virtual barriers and
For more information, please Contact Bill Mefford at 202.488.5657 or
undocumented immigrants to Enrollment of undocumented
apply for citizenship; aliens into verification program bmefford@umc-gbcs.org.
Penalizing businesses for for citizenship or deportation
hiring undocumented About the General Board of Church and Society
immigrants;
Increasing number of visas for The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is one of four international general
families and workers. program boards of The United Methodist Church focusing on advocacy and
leadership training.

Visit our website at www.umc-gbcs.org to download the comprehensive Election

Guide and other valuable resources.

Prepared by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
Comparison of Political Party Platforms and We deplore all forms of commercialization and exploitation of sex
The United Methodist Church with their consequent cheapening and degradation of human
personality. We call for strict global enforcement of laws
prohibiting sexual exploitation or use of children by adults and
Health and Wholeness Issues Pornography encourage efforts to hold perpetrators legally and financially
responsible.

We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol ¶161.G and ¶162.C, Social Principles
as a faithful witness to God's liberating and redeeming love for
persons. We support abstinence from the use of any illegal
Alcohol and drugs. … we recommend total abstinence from the use of Democratic Party Republican Party
Other Drugs tobacco.
Elimination of sex trafficking Increasing regulation of
Tolls for parents in blocking technology to thwart sexual
¶162J, Social Principles
online and television content predators
2008 General Conference
Implementing reporting
mechanisms for notifying
Democratic Party Republican Party authorities of child pornography
on company networks
Punishment for sexual
Makes no statement regarding this issue. predators

Health is a condition of physical, mental, social, and spiritual

well-being, and we view it as a responsibility—public and private. Health and Wholeness
Health Care Health care is a basic human right.
Our advocacy focuses on achieving a global society of persons who have access to
¶162.T, Social Principles health and wholeness by emphasizing the Wesleyan understanding of social holiness
extending to influence personal habits, public policy, and environmental and social
factors that impact the Health and Wholeness of individuals and communities around
Democratic Party Republican Party the globe.

Access to affordable
comprehensive, health care for
all
Sharing the costs for care
Decisions being made by
patients and health care
providers
Privatization
Utilizing health care savings
accounts
Lowering costs through a free
market system
Decisions being made by
patients and health care
providers
For more information, please Contact Cynthia Abrams at 202.488.5636 or
cabrams@umc-gbcs.org.
About the General Board of Church and Society
The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is one of four international general
program boards of The United Methodist Church focusing on advocacy and
leadership training.

Visit our website at www.umc-gbcs.org to download the comprehensive Election

Guide and other valuable resources.

Prepared by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
Comparison of Political Party Platforms and The majority of persons in the world live in poverty. In order to
The United Methodist Church provide basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, education,
health care and other necessities, ways must be found to share
Global Poverty
more equitably the resources of the world.
Peace with Justice Issues
¶163.E, Social Principles

[We] call on the U.S. government to immediately work with all deliberate
speed towards peaceful resolution if issues with Iran and to reject any Democratic Party Republican Party
first-strike actions by U.S. armed forces.
Implementing the U.N. Emphasizing literacy and
Millennium Development Goals learning
War and Peace with Iran,
(MDG) to cut extreme poverty Improving economic
North Korea, and the World,
2008 General Conference by 50% by 2015 development, clean water and
Increasing investments by $50 agriculture
We call upon the U.S. government to end the cycle of violence in Iraq billion by 2012 Increasing microcredit funding
Middle East by developing and implementing a plan for the immediate and safe
Peace withdrawal of all U.S. and partner coalition troops from the country.
(Iran, Iraq and
Israeli/Palestine) Peace in Iraq
2008 General Conference
Peace with Justice
[We] continue to work with ecumenical and inter-faith bodies to
advocate for Palestinian self-determination and an end to Israeli
The Peace with Justice Program aims to make shalom visible and active in people's
occupation and to affirm Israel’s right to exist within secure borders.
lives and communities. The General Conference assigned the General Board of
Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Church and Society to implement the program and called the church to "strengthen its
Palestinian Land capacity to act as a public policy advocate" in communities and nations throughout
Book of Resolutions the world.

For more information, please Contact Mark Harrison at 202.488.5645 or

Democratic Party Republican Party mharrison@umc-gbcs.org.

Preventing Iran from acquiring Increasing political, economic About the General Board of Church and Society
nuclear weapons and diplomatic pressure
Ending the war in Iraq Retaining all options for dealing
The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is one of four international general
responsibly with Iran
Ending any permanent base Committing to winning the war program boards of The United Methodist Church focusing on advocacy and
agreements in Iraq Respecting the advice of leadership training.
Actively securing peace for military commanders
Israelis and Palestinians Protecting Israel’s security Visit our website at www.umc-gbcs.org to download the comprehensive Election
Establishing a Palestinian state through military technology Guide and other valuable resources.
and a Jewish state, with A two democratic state solution
Jerusalem as the capital of Moving the U.S. embassy to
Israel the capital of Israel

Prepared by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
Comparison of Political Party Platforms and Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to
approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness
The United Methodist Church of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child… We
recognize tragic conflicts of life that may justify abortion, and in such
cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical
Women and Children Issues Abortion procedures. We support parental, guardian, or other responsible adult
notification and consent before abortions can be performed on girls
who have not yet reached the age of legal adulthood. We cannot affirm
We recognize that family violence and abuse in all its forms—verbal, abortion as an acceptable means of birth control, and we
Domestic psychological, physical, sexual—are detrimental to the covenant of the unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection.
Violence human community.
¶161.J, Social Principles
¶161.H, Social Principles

Democratic Party Republican Party

Democratic Party Republican Party
Roe v. Wade and the Dignity and sanctity of all human
Creating a special advisor to Makes no statement regarding women’s right to choose a life
the president this issue. safe and legal abortion A human life amendment to the
Increasing funding to domestic Health care and education to Constitution to overturn Roe v.
and sexual assault prevention reduce unintended Wade
programs pregnancies and reduce the Opposing public fund funding
Strengthening sexual assault number of abortions organizations that advocate
and domestic violence laws abortion
Building foreign policies that Appointing judges who respect
are sensitive to issues of traditional family values
aggression against women Rejecting international treaties
around the world (like UN convection on women’s
rights and UN convention on right
of the child) related to family
In response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world, The United Methodist planning and education
Church commits itself to a holistic approach of awareness, education,
HIV / prevention, treatment, community organizing and public advocacy… All
AIDS individuals living with HIV and AIDS should be treated with dignity and
respect. Women and Children
¶162.S, Social Principles
As United Methodists, we are called to be in ministry with women and children
recognizing that women and children bring abundant gifts to the world.
Democratic Party Republican Party
Increasing funding for HIV/ Assisting countries affected by For more information, please Contact Linda Bales at 202.488.5649 or
AIDS research, care and HIV/ AIDS, malaria and mharrison@umc-gbcs.org.
prevention tuberculosis
Expanding and renewing Prioritizing maternal and child About the General Board of Church and Society
minority HIV / AIDS initiatives health
Providing Medicaid coverage to The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is one of four international general
low-income HIV-positive program boards of The United Methodist Church focusing on advocacy and
individuals leadership training.

Visit our website at www.umc-gbcs.org to download the comprehensive Election

Guide and other valuable resources.

Prepared by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
Comparison of Political Party Platforms and We endorse the United Nations and its related bodies as the best
United
The United Methodist Church Nations
instruments now in existence to achieve a world of justice and law.

¶165.D, Social Principles

United Nations and International Affairs
Democratic Party Republican Party
[We] call on government leaders to place people and justice at center Enhancing the global United Nations reform
of concerted efforts toward the eradication of poverty and sustainable cooperation of issues of
Latin and equitable development in the region. Special attention should be weapons proliferation to
America made to people who are marginalized: indigenous communities, Afro- climate change
and the Stronger international
Latinos, women and children.
Caribbean institutions
United Nations reform
Latin America and the Caribbean
2008 General Conference

Democratic Party Republican Party United Nations and International Affairs

Partnering with Latin America Creating secure borders with Bringing together United Methodists around the world who have signified their
and the Caribbean sovereign nations intention to use the United Nations mechanisms and other regional and international
Strengthen democracy Developing mutually beneficial multilateral instruments as basis for advocating both national and international
throughout Latin America and trade agreements
policies on issues as diverse as sustainable development, human rights,
the Caribbean
disarmament, international law, war and peace, women, children, and freedom of
religion or belief.

We affirm the importance of international trade and investment in an For more information, please Contact Liberato Bautista at 212.682.3633 or
interdependent world. Trade and investment should be based on rules lbautista@umc-gbcs.org.
Trade that support the dignity of the human person, a clean environment and
our common humanity. About the General Board of Church and Society
¶163.J, Social Principles The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is one of four international general
program boards of The United Methodist Church focusing on advocacy and
Democratic Party Republican Party leadership training.

Enforcing trade laws and Increase international trade Visit our website at www.umc-gbcs.org to download the comprehensive Election
safeguarding workers, business Developing multilateral Guide and other valuable resources.
and farmers regional and bilateral trade
Creating bilateral trade agreements
agreements
Protecting the environment,
food safety and health of
American citizens

Prepared by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church