MFSA Plumblines

At the United Methodist Church’s General Conference—the global gathering where decisions shaping the denomination’s future are made—thousands of pieces of legislation come before delegates. To help people understand what’s at stake and to support advocacy rooted in justice and inclusion, the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) produces Plumblines. Each Plumbline explains a legislative issue in plain language and helps readers consider how it aligns with shared values.

The term plumbline comes from a builder’s tool used to check whether something is straight and true. As a metaphor, it asks whether our decisions line up with our commitments. MFSA Plumblines apply that question to church legislation, measuring proposals against values like justice, inclusion, and faithful public witness.

For the 2020/2024 General Conference cycle, MFSA wrote 16 Plumblines on issues including racial justice, reproductive justice, climate action, accessibility, structural reform, and anti-discrimination. Together, they offer a guide through a complex legislative landscape—helping people understand not just what a proposal says, but why it matters. We invite you to read through these Plumblines below.