The united Methodist church and public education

1
The united Methodist church and public education

• A Pastoral Statement
• from Bishop Bruce R. Ough
• West Ohio Annual Conference
• and Bishop John L. Hopkins
• East Ohio Annual Conference

2
Mark 1014

• We believe that every person has the right to
  education. We also believe that the
  responsibility for the education of the young
  rests with the
• Family
• Faith communities
• The government.
• The United Methodist Social Principles

• Let the little children come to me do not stop
  them for it is to such as these that the Kingdom
  of God belongs.

3

• The clearest path out of poverty is a quality
  education.

• A strong and just public education system is the
  best tool available for fighting poverty and
  sustainable economic growth for all of Ohios
  citizens.

4
Call to Advocacy

• We call the UMC in Ohio to engage in non
  partisan, civil discourse about
• The value a strong and just educational system
  brings to fighting poverty.
• The challenges in Ohio to establishing such a
  system.
• The implications for the work and witness of the
  United Methodist Church.

• We affirm and embrace our historic statements and
  the advocacy for quality public education they
  encourage.

5
Strength and Justice go Hand in Hand

• Strength requires financial support.
• Justice requires that the system genuinely seek
  to educate every single child.
• Integrate learning, health, safety and
  recreational needs.
• Respect all human diversity.
• Function as a pathway to higher and life-long
  education.

• We discern a shared belief among United
  Methodists across our Conferences that education
  in Ohio is neither strong nor just.

6
A Multi-focal Strategy

• Prayer
• Issue awareness and education
• Activism
• State level advocacy
• Parental involvement with children
• Citizen involvement with local schools

• Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the
  transformation of the world invites us into the
  work of removing barriers to a strong and just
  public education system.

7
Call to Action

• Learn about your local school district.
• Volunteer at a local school.
• Get to know the School Board and the candidates.
• Participate in Tax Levy campaigns.
• Ask critical questions about current practices
  and policies.
• Adopt a student, a class, or a school.

• We call upon every United Methodist congregation
  to become informed and engaged in the public
  education of our children.

8
Policy Development

• The State of Ohio makes decisions that impact
  every district.
• Funding is a significant issue for our state.
• Funding policy can be determined by legislative
  action or by a statewide referendum.
• Key conversations with the Governor, Legislators,
  and the education community are needed.

• There is a role for The United Methodist Church
  where the interests of all Ohio school districts
  come togetherat the state and national levels of
  policy development.

9
Funding

• Ensure that all public school have the necessary
  resources to address the needs of all children
• Rich or poor
• Disadvantaged or privileged
• Minority or majority
• Disabled or gifted

• Ultimately, we need to resolve the impasse over
  funding for public education and develop a plan

10
We embrace the United Methodist Way

• We embrace all Gods children as our own.
• We are in a unique and blessed position to move
  the discourse on public education to a higher
  plain.

• The United Methodists of Ohio are a generous and
  faithful people. We embrace the United Methodist
  WayDo no harm, do good, stay in love with God.

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The Bishops of Ohio invite you to join in this
Holy Work
Bishop Bruce Ough West Ohio

• Join us in saving children from poverty by
  ensuring that every child receives an adequate
  education through a strong and just public
  education system.

Bishop John Hopkins East Ohio