Clinton Promotes Social Gospel as Keynote Speaker at United Methodist Womens Conference
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker at Saturdays United Methodist Womens Assembly in Kentucky, where she addressed a group of over 7,000 women about spiritual and social issues.
Clinton spoke of how she grew up in the United Methodist denomination, and about her desire to tackle global problems like poverty and sex trafficking.
I have always cherished the Methodist Church because it gave us the great gift of personal salvation but also the great obligation of social gospel, she stated. And I took that very seriously and have tried, tried to be guided in my own life ever since as an advocate for children and families, for women and men around the world who are oppressed and persecuted, denied their human rights and human dignity.
The former first lady spoke of how Jesus fed the five thousand, and remarked that it reflected the duty of mankind to care for the less fortunate.
In the story, when the hour grows late and the crowd grows hungry, the disciples come to Jesus and suggest they send away the people to find food, to fend for themselves, Clinton said. Jesus said No, you feed them. He was teaching a lesson about the responsibly we all share to step up and serve the community, especially to help those with the greatest need and the fewest resources.
Although she otherwise shared little about politics, Clinton touched on her beliefs regarding gender equality, speaking about her desire for equal pay for women.
Women can drive economic growth, she said, speaking of the Clinton Foundations No Ceilings effort. But instead of being encouraged, theyre being held back.
The truth is there are too many women in our country today trying to build a life and a family that dont just face ceilings on their aspirations and opportunities; its as if the floor is collapsing beneath them, Clinton stated. These are our sisters, our daughters, granddaughters. Some are hungry, not just for nutritious food but for opportunity, for chance to thrive, for their own piece of the American dream.
However, many Christians have expressed opposition to Clinton because of her outspoken advocacy for abortion and support for homosexual marriage. In March, while speaking to the United Nations onInternational Womens Day, she reiterated her beliefs about abortion.
There is one lesson from the past, in particular, that we cannot afford to ignore: You cannot make progress on gender equality or broader human development, without safeguarding womens reproductive health and rights. That is a bedrock truth, she said.This remains the great unfinished business of the 21st century. No country in the world, including my own, has achieved full participation.
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Clinton Promotes Social Gospel as Keynote Speaker at United Methodist Womens Conference