| Methodist co-sponsors of H.J.R 42 ( the names link to Wikipedia bios) | |
|---|---|
| Representative | State |
| Joe Barton | Texas |
| Tom Cole | Oklahoma |
| John Culberson | Texas |
| Kay Granger | Texas |
| Ralph Hall | Texas |
| Sam Johnson | Texas |
| John Kline | Minnesota |
| Steve LaTourette | Ohio |
| Jeff Miller | Florida |
| Jerry Moran | Kansas |
| Sue Myrick | N. Carolina |
| Bill Posey | Florida |
| Phil Roe | Tennessee |
| Pete Sessions | Texas |
| Lee Terry | Nebraska |
| Ed Whitfield | Kentucky |
The Representatives listed in the table on the right were co-sponsors of the controversial Parental Rights Amendment in the 111th Congress, despite being of the Methodist faith. The instigator of this bill, Michael Farris, makes no secret of the fact that one of its aims is to undermine the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, if the treaty is ratified by the USA (source).
It would appear that these Reps are either deliberately flouting the values of the Church they profess to belong to, or else they are ignorant of what the United Methodist Church stands for.
In fact, only one major church in the USA has passed a resolution against the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child — the Southern Baptist Convention.
The bill died in the 111th Congress but has been re-introduced in the 112th Congress, with many of the same co-sponsors.
The official position of the United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a partner in The Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as is the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
See:
Partners list – childrightscampaign.org
In 2004, the United Methodist Church issued a Statement of Social Principles concerning human rights:
http://archives.umc.org/interior_print.asp?mid=6856
Southern Methodist University
The Southern Methodist University in Texas has placed student interns with Save the Children UK, assisting the Child Rights Information Network in London. In June 2011, the Southern Methodist University held a Global Summit on Ending Corporal Punishment and Promoting Positive Discipline in Dallas. The organizing committee included representatives from 11 universities in the United States, 11 from overseas universities and organizations, and Rep. Barbara M. Norton from the Louisiana House of Representatives. There were over 30 conference speakers including Texas State Representative Alma Allen and Howard Davidson, J.D., of the American Bar Association.
An account of the proceedings is available online:
http://smuglobalsummit2011.wordpress.com/
Participants from more than 20 countries attended the conference.
