Complete 2012 Journal - 2012 NC Conference Journal

Section iV: Legislation and Reports 191
Christian Formation Team
Church and Society
Methodism was founded at the crossroads of social activism and faithful discipleship. Our
church’s founder, John Wesley, set up societies that brought good news to the poor, release
to the captives and set the prisoner free. The Board of Church and Society lives within the
tension that calls us to examine society through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The
North Carolina Board of Church and Society has long been a sounding board for our Annual
Conference in matters where issues of faith intersect with concerns of society and culture.
We have sought to teach and to lead in the making of caring and responsible disciples for the
transformation of the world.
Our continued focus has been to educate and encourage awareness of the local church of
our United Methodist Social Principles. Last year, we developed a web-based, interactive
quiz based on the Social Principles of the UMC. This year, we have continued to examine
and embrace the effective use of the Internet as a tool of learning, by developing interactives
utilizing “Moodle” (web-based learning). We are indebted to Christine Harman, of our
conference staff, for her hard work and dedication to this project. Please visit our web page
(http://nccumc.org/christianformation/church-and-society).
Over the course of this past year, we have continued our focus on Spiritual Development,
Social Responsibility and Scriptural Engagement, as contained in our United Methodist
Social Principles. As we learn more about our Social Principles, we uncover truths about the
inequalities of global health, injustice, poverty, and exploitation. These issues are very real and
are not limited to our third world neighbors. As these truths are exposed, it is our hope that
the local church will faithfully respond to the needs that are found in our own backyard.
We were pleased to continue to offer support as one of the co-sponsors of the Jack Crum
Conference on Prophetic Ministry. This year’s event focused on the currently proposed
amendment to North Carolina’s State Constitution.
Our goal for this quadrennium was to strengthen the local church, in ways both theological
and practical, so that the local church could have the tools to respond to the socio-economic
turmoil in which we have found ourselves. We have embraced the four-fold path of
developing leadership, creating places for new people, eliminating poverty and improving
global health. This path, as embraced by the 2008 General Conference, is otherwise known
as the four foci. As we move forward into a new quadrennium, we will continue to raise
awareness for issues of social justice throughout the world.
We are pleased to announce that this year’s Jack and Kay Crum Prophetic Ministry Award
has been awarded to H.O.P.E.—Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement. H.O.P.E. is
an ecumenically based, outreach program of Garner United Methodist Church. The program
is designed to provide homeless people a break in their day and week while offering them a
safe place and an encouraging environment. This ministry offers many valuable services to the
homeless community, including: home cooked meals, hot shower, change of clothes - when
available, haircuts on occasion, and assistance with legal forms–when available.
We have awarded a Peace with Justice grant to Oleander UMC in Wilmington. Oleander
UMC supports a multi-cultural Cub Scout troop.
When considering Peace with Justice grants this year, we were concerned by what seemed to
be a lack of awareness of this grant source for ministries whose programs support Peace and