04/16/2026
A moment, please, to reflect on the value of each life placed on this Earth.
Take a moment, please, to reflect on those living in areas of war and the realities for them, their families, and their way of life.
As Christians, as United Methodists, as citizens of a nation not located in war, might we recognize this moment in history and what it means to support war and the countless lives it affects.
In moments like this, people often turn to their faith for guidance in understanding what their Church has to say about social issues. United Methodists do so through what are called our Social Principles which are written and adopted by United Methodists from around the world.
Regarding war, our Social Principles state:
"The church deplores war and all other forms of violent conflict and urges the peaceful settlement of all disputes. We yearn for the day when there will be no more war and people will live together in peace and justice. We reject the use of war as an instrument of foreign policy and insist that every peaceful and diplomatic means of resolution be exhausted before the start of armed conflicts. Similarly, we oppose the increasing reliance on preemptive strikes unless they can be clearly demonstrated to be proportionate in response, delimited in human casualties, and undertaken in response to clear and immediate threats to human lives. We grieve that in a world where so many live in poverty, governments continue to dedicate enormous resources to preparing for and conducting wars. We are especially distressed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and call not only for an end to their production, but for their complete elimination." UMC Social Principles 2020/2024
