Living the Connection, our commitment to Social Holiness
Hello, friends! It is good to be back writing to you after a summer of meetings including our Desert Southwest and Western Jurisdiction Conferences. I also received a bit of renewal leave since you last heard from me through this column. For all of this and so much more I am grateful!
On this day I want to address our Desert Southwest commitment to Social Holiness. It is a commitment deeply rooted in our understanding of scripture. We believe that as disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to live out our faith in the world. As scripture reminds us, we are not of the world, but who would know it unless we stand in the world and give witness to our faith! So let me help us address three issues: AZ Propositions 200 and 102 and the present economic crisis.
Arizona Proposition 200 has to do with Payday Loans. The payday loan industry would have us believe that this proposition would bring true reform to this industry in a manner that would benefit consumers. The payday loan industry has in fact sunk $11 million into TV spots and direct mailings to convince us that the passage of Prop. 200 would be a good thing. It would financially be a very good thing for the payday loan industry, but not for anyone else.
The facts are that the Payday Loan industry previously was able to obtain permission from the State of Arizona to charge 410% interest on its loans until 2010. This in a state where all others who provide consumer loans cannot charge more than 36% interest on their loans! The most crucial facts at this point are that the passage of Arizona Proposition 200 would lower the interest rate on payday loans only to 391% and it would remove the sunset clause so that the payday loan industry could continue to do business without any time limits.
Those who turn to payday loans tend to be persons who are poor, and working class families who hit a financial crisis. They are already vulnerable. A loan with a 391% to 410 % interest rate would only make them more vulnerable, all for the profit of another. As persons of Christian faith we believe that persons come before profits. And that economic systems are intended to serve all God’s people so that all live in God’s abundance. Human beings were not created to be slaves to unjust economic systems. Economic systems are to serve people fairly. God has given us enough in this world to live satisfied lives, but greed can get the best of us. Arizona Proposition 200 is about greed.
On Arizona Proposition 102, I confess I was surprised because Arizona already has a clear law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. I also remember that we have been down this road before with voters turning down a similar proposition not that long ago. But wanting to be informed and responsible in my voting, I have read the proposition carefully as well as other documents related to it, both pro and con. Here’s a website I visited as part of my study: www.azsos.gov/election/2008/Info/PubPamphlet/english/Prop102.htm. Here is where I stand on this one. I believe it is a proposition not so much in defense of marriage as a union between a man and a woman (we already have such a law!), but rather a statement against gay and lesbian partnerships and their right to full protection under the law. Now here is where we stand as United Methodists.
The Book of Discipline of The UMC 2004, states:
We support the laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman………..We insist that all persons, regardless of age, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation, are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured……Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth…..The UMC does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in Christian community. (Social Principles, paragraph 161.(C), (G).
As you know, I do not fully support the stand of The UMC as stated above, but will uphold our denominational stand including advocating for the human and civil rights of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. I for one will be voting against AZ Proposition 102.
Finally, we find ourselves in the U.S. in one of the most difficult economic periods of recent times. Economists and political leaders are trying to work their way through this crisis. Allow me to remind us of what we United Methodists would want to contribute to the conversation. Quoting again from our Social Principles I would lift up the following relevant word:
We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. Therefore, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the economic life of individuals and corporate entities and that ensure full employment and adequate incomes with a minimum of inflation. We believe private and public economic enterprises are responsible for the social costs of doing business, such as employment and environmental pollution, and they should be held accountable for these costs. We support measures that would reduce the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. We further support efforts to revise tax structures and to eliminate governmental support programs that now benefit the wealthy at the expense of other persons. (Social Principles, paragraph 163)
We need to hold our political and corporate leaders responsible for finding solutions to our economic crisis that are fair and just in the ways our Social Principles define.
Together we must shape a social culture of justice. When we fail to stand for what is right and against what is wrong, and we fail to hold up justice as a core value by which we will order our lives, we condemn our communities to ultimate self-destruction, and we fail to truly be people of Christian faith.
Peace, Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño