Social Justice

Everyone is welcome. We typically meet on the last Monday of each month in the new café area outside the Sanctuary. For more information, contact:

Greg Schafer
gpschafer@gmail.com

Van Shirey
vrs@chorgood.com

Pastor Heather Nordgren
hnordgren@newalbanyumc.com

Our Beliefs

Since its founding, the United Methodist Church has taken an active role in improving people's lives by addressing social issues. These beliefs are outlined in the UMC’s Social Principles.

As United Methodists and followers of Jesus Christ, at New Albany United Methodist Church (NAUMC) we believe God's love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty. We cannot just be observers. With that in mind, NAUMC believes that all people deserve fair and equal treatment -- regardless of race, sexual identity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic or national background, or mental or physical ability. We are all participants in social justice. Each one of us has a part to play.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 NIV

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV

What We Do

The NAUMC Social Justice Group seeks to educate our congregation and community on issues where there are social injustices and to provide opportunities to address those injustices. Some of past and current areas of focus include the following:

  • Racism – Encouraged more diversity in composers and arrangers of music sung by the Chancel Choir and hosted a Listen and Learn on Growing Up Black in the Civil Rights Era (see pictures below)
  • Gender Equality- LGBTQ rights- Partnership with Pride New Albany, Listen and Learn about Transgender Healthcare and Allyship Hosted a viewing of 1946, a documentary about the continued effects of a mistranslation of a popular version of the Bible in 1946
  • Poverty – Working on easy to support Church ministries and community organizations that are striving to assist the persons experiencing income instability and/or are unhoused
  • Suicide – Hosted a Suicide Prevention Training known as QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
  • Threat of Christian Nationalism – Working on creating a training session utilizing the “Beloved Community” model, looking for books to refer to others for enlightened reading, and developing Listen and Learn Sessions