Social Principles as Adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024

First adopted by the 1972 General Conference, the Social Principles document stands in the Wesleyan tradition of forthright moral witness and ethical action.

The Social Principles articulate our ethical aspirations for the common good in our public policies and personal commitments. Through them, we seek to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul , and strength and to desire for our neighbors what we desire for ourselves.

During an eight year timeframe, Church and Society managed a global process to revise the Social Principles in their entirety (2012 - 2020). The momentous effort was adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024. Read the Article HERE.

The Social Principles as adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024, will officially take effect January 1, 2025. Cokesbury, the United Methodist publishing house will print the updated, official UMC Social Principles booklet in 2025.

Given the numerous requests for information and study materials on the Social Principles, Church and Society’s online content offers resources for use before 2025. In 2025, Church and Society plans to produce more Social Principles resources including social witness video reels from multiple countries and more material translations.

Learn All the Social Principles in The Booklet

• English

• Filipino

• French

• German (updated translation in progress)

• Ilocano

• Korean

• Portuguese

• Spanish

• Swahili

Understand the Background and History: Read the Summary Pages

English

• Introduction
• Backgrounder
• FAQ’s

Français

• Préambule
• Document D'Information
• Questions Fréquentes

Português

• Introdução
• Histórico
• Perguntas Frequentes

Swahili

• Utangulizi
• Hati ya Habari
• Maswali Yanayoulizwa Mara Kwa Mara

Read, Discuss and Apply the Social Principles Resources for Mission and Ministry

Use the following cards with questions to guide personal study or facilitate small group discussions within your church. Focus on linking the issues to your local church and community, while keeping the broader global context in mind. Explore ways to move from discussion to advocacy, moving faith into action.

English

• Preface & Preamble
• Community of All Creation
• The Economic Community
• The Social Community
• The Political Community

Français

• Préface & Préambule
• Communauté de Toute Création
• Communauté Économique
• Communauté Sociale
• Communauté Politique

Português

• Prefácio e Preâmbulo
• Comunidade de Toda a Criação
• Comunidade Econômica
• Comunidade Social
• Comunidade Política

Swahili

• Dibaji & Utangulizi
• Jumuiya ya Uumbaji
• Jumuiya ya Kiuchumi
• Jumuiya ya Kijamii
• Jumuiya ya Kisiasa