The United Methodist Church has engaged in ministry and mission in the Appalachian region for over two centuries. Even though many resources have been committed through ministries such as Red Bird Missionary Conference (Kentucky), Hinton Rural Life Center (North Carolina), Upper Sand Mountain Cooperative Parish (Alabama), Jackson Area Ministries (Ohio), Heart and Hand House (West Virginia), Connellsville Cooperative Ministry (Pennsylvania), Jubilee Project (Tennessee), and in many other local and community ministries, conditions among many people in this region continue to worsen.
For instance, the average per capita income in Appalachia is 80.8 percent of the U.S. average (in Central Appalachia, it is only 60.9 percent) and continues to experience decline: 23.09 percent of rural families and 27.88 percent of children live below the poverty level. Second, while entitlement subsidies have raised the living standard somewhat for the elderly, reductions of federal and state entitlements to other segments of the population have resulted in increased suffering of numerous Appalachians in terms of health care, education, housing, transportation, and economic opportunity.
Third, unemployment is above 20 percent in many portions of the region, and employment opportunities decrease with the continuing exodus of industry and the growing mechanization of coal mining and timbering.
Fourth, absentee ownership of land (80 percent) by multi-national corporations and the federal government results in economic benefits for outsiders, and vast areas of the region have become a dumping ground for the entire eastern seaboard. The result has been increasingly disastrous environmental damage.
Be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church:
reaffirms its commitment to ministry and mission, addressing the challenges of Appalachia denominationally as directed by the General Conference of 1968, through the coordination of the Appalachian Development Committee, and ecumenically through the Commission on Religion in Appalachia; and
Further be it resolved, that all levels of the Church be called upon to consider the worsening conditions of Appalachia to reevaluate current programs; to reorder priorities; and to work with other religious groups ecumenically and in conjunction with government and community organizations to respond to the hurts and needs of Appalachian people and communities through a comprehensive program of spiritual renewal, social recovery, economic transformation, and political responsibility and compassion.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20892-GM-R401-U
1996 United Methodist General Conference