BOARD OF CHURCH AND SOCIETY
2011 ANNUAL REPORT

The essential work of the Board includes:

        • Creating plans and programs that challenge conferences and local church members toward personal, social and civic righteousness;
        • Analyzing the social and justice issues that confront persons, communities, nations and the world; and
        • Encouraging Christian lines of action that assist humankind to move toward a world where peace and justice are achieved.

The Board meets six times annually at the Annual Conference office. The Board is heavily dependent on the United Methodist Social Principles which were again adopted by the United Methodist General Conference in 2008 for guidance on the direction of United Methodist social justice ministries. The Board is further responsive to the Four Focus Areas of The United Methodist Church and the Vision of the Wisconsin Annual Conference. At the 2011 Wisconsin Annual Conference session the Board is presenting 9 petitions to the 2012 General Conference encouraging Annual Conference support for petitioned language changes in the Book of Discipline concerning homosexuality. Two resolutions on social justice issues are also being presented to the Annual Conference. The first of these
supports worker rights for Collective Bargaining and the second supports Health Care In Our Social Community. At each Annual Conference session The Board hosts display tables providing information about Church and Society issues and Peace with Justice concerns. The available materials include copies of the UMC Social Principles and literature provided by the UMC General Board of Church and Society on social issues. The Board has supported the attendance of a young Wisconsin United Methodist clergy person at the annual national training session on social justice ministries sponsored by the General Board of Church and Society earlier this year.

Peace with Justice programs are funded by the annual Peace with Justice general church offerings held in Wisconsin UMC local churches. The monies received are divided between the state and national UMC agencies for support of such programs. Each year some of the funding has gone toward specific programs of the Wisconsin Council of Churches and other funding has been expended for peace with justice programs developed in local UMC churches or community agencies. Each local Wisconsin UMC church is encouraged to participate in the Peace with Justice Sunday offering and name a liaison person who relates the local church to the conference Peace with Justice ministry.  In January 2011 the Board cosponsored a conference with United Methodists for Social Action on the UMC Social Principles. Leadership was available from the General Board of Church and Society. In October 2011 the Board, with national leadership, is sponsoring two conference seminars on “Bullies, Victims, By Standers” directed toward Middle School and High School youth, parents, teachers, counselors and pastors.

Leigh M. Roberts, Chairperson