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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
September 2004 |
Christian principles give criteria for judging candidates
By Carol Fouke
NEW YORK (UMNS) - The National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. has released ten principles for evaluating candidates that it hopes all Christians - from liberals to conservatives - will consider in this election year.
These "Christian Principles in an Election Year" apply well-established ecumenical principles to both domestic and foreign policy issues, and address issues of war, poverty, immigration, education, health care, racial justice, distress in America's inner cities and rural communities, the environment and the criminal justice system.
Domestic policies should build "communities shaped by peace and cooperation" and a foreign policy "based on cooperation and global justice," according to the principles.
The Rev. Michael Kinnamon, who chairs the NCC's Justice and Advocacy Commission, called the principles "an important voice in the public conversation about where this nation should be headed."
That multi-denominational commission developed the principles, which then were affirmed by the NCC's Executive Committee. "The principles are not intended to be partisan, but rather to lift up common principles that have been affirmed ecumenically and that can provide guidance in this election season," he explained.
Neither are the principles meant to be exhaustive of all concerns. "There are other issues on which some Justice and Advocacy Commission members wanted to speak and that Roman Catholics and conservative evangelical Christians might add, but on which churches aren't united," Kinnamon said. "For us, the issue is how to begin a conversation in the pews. We proclaim with a bold humility that this is where we stand right now, even as we invite others into the conversation."
A number of the principles have roots in ecumenical agreements that date back more than 50 years, noted Kinnamon, a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister and professor at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis.
For example, the first principle, "War is contrary to the will of God," was affirmed at the World Council of Churches' founding assembly in 1948. "It's not a pacifist position," he said, "but it says 'no' to crusade. It acknowledges that 'while the use of force may, at times, be a necessity of last resort, Christ pronounces his blessing on the peacemakers.'"
Other principles echo such "key principles of the whole ecumenical movement" as the interrelatedness of all people, God's priority concern for the poor, the infinite worth of each person as created in the image of God, and the God-given responsibility to be stewards of God's creation, he added.
The Rev. Robert Edgar, a United Methodist pastor, former congressman and the NCC's chief executive, pointed out that "elections are an opportunity for education of voters, communities and churches around what civic responsibility is. We believe in the separation of church and state, but not in the separation of people of faith from institutions of government. We believe people of faith need to be involved in the political process, be registered and vote with a sense of empowerment and conscience. We hope these principles will help them."
The principles address not only the issues but also the conduct of campaigns, asking candidates to "refrain from using faith-based organizations and institutions for partisan gain" and urging "the campaigns of political candidates and the coverage of the media in this election season be conducted according to principles of fairness, honesty and integrity."
The full text of "Christian Principles in an Election Year" follows, and is available on the NCC's Web site at www.ncccusa.org/electionyearprinciplesguide.pdf.
Carol Fouke serves on the communications staff of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A..
Last updated on 08/24/2004