The United Nations or the Reformation: What Sunday is It?
United Nations Sunday October 27, 2013 marks the 67th year that the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society has been promoting United Nations Sunday. The observance takes place on the Sunday closest to October 24. I don't understand why a political institution - even a trans-national political institution - should be the focus of Christian worship. I say that with all due respect to the United Nations, with which I would gladly work as part of a U.S. force in peacekeeping or disaster relief operations. Whatever importance the observance of United Nations Sunday once had, it seems to be waning in significance, even in the progressive wing of Christ's church. The UMC’s General Board of Church and Society appears to be joined only by the Unitarian-Universalist Association and New York’s Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in publicizing the observance of United Nations Sunday this year. In general, the church's life is less driven by the calendar of g...