In the days since Jared Loughner opened fire on a crowd at an Arizona Safeway, United Methodists have been reminded repeatedly that we "officially" oppose gun violence. According a UM News Report:
Delegates at the United Methodist Church’s 2008 General Conference passed a resolution on gun violence that states: “The need to prevent the incidence of firearm-related injury and death is an issue of increasing concern and a priority public health issue. The United Methodist Church is among those religious communities calling for social policies and personal lifestyles that bring an end to senseless gun violence.”
Is there anyone naive enough to believe that because the General Conference passed this resolution there is less gun violence in the world? But United Methodists everywhere can stand tall because our elected delegates approved a statement in opposition to violence. (read sarcasitically)
This tragedy is another proof that resolutions are not worth the paper their printed on. Paper which by the way comes from trees that other resolutions vow to protect.
If United Methodists invested the time, energy and expense that are used to pass resolutions in real ministry we could change the world. Maybe we even could have reached a disturbed young man with the love of Christ. Now that would be useful.
Resolutions are not worth the paper their printed on ? But with no resolution, nobody understands what we believe.
Posted by: Chrétiens persécutés | January 27, 2011 at 09:42 AM
I was just thinking the same thing about wasting time blogging about wasting time passing resolutions.
Posted by: Andrew Mails | February 20, 2011 at 10:55 PM