Petition Text: 21042-CS-NonDis-O

Understanding Petition Numbers

___________________________________________________

The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations have a long history of witness against the use and marketing of tobacco products. There is overwhelming evidence linking cigarette smoking with lung cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and related illnesses.

We are outraged by the use of marketing techniques aimed at children by leading cigarette manufacturers. Two specific companies using marketing strategies aimed at children are Philip Morris, which sells Marlboro cigarettes, and RJR Nabisco, which sells Camel cigarettes.

Therefore, as people of faith who believe our bodies are temples of the living God (1Corinthians 6:13-20), we:

A. Call on the General Board of Church and Society to maintain and publish a current list of consumer products produced by Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco so United Methodists are made aware of their indirect support of the tobacco industry;

B. Commend the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits for its long standing exclusion of tobacco manufacturers from its investment portfolio and ask it to challenge public media in its portfolio not to carry advertisements and promotion of tobacco products;

C. Ask all United Methodist agencies and related institutions to take into account the church's social principles and tobacco concerns and, specifically, to consider the role of Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco in tobacco marketing as a factor in any decision in purchasing food products manufactured by them;

D. Request the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries, the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry to communicate, interpret and advocate for this concern with their affiliated institutions;

E. Ask all local churches and annual conferences to educate their membership about the tobacco industry marketing tactics aimed at children. It is equally important we understand the connection between our purchasing food products and our indirect support of the tobacco industry;

F. Request the General Board of Church and Society to explore productive measures aimed at stopping tobacco companies from marketing cigarettes and other tobacco products to children.

___________________________________________________

General Conference Index | PETS Index | Petition Information Index

General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn

Petition Text: 21042-CS-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference