Death Penalty Reform 2002

WHEREAS the judgment of Cain (Genesis 4:9-15), The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38-39), the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) are examples of a general movement away from the death penalty throughout the scripture.

WHEREAS "The United Methodist Church has passed resolutions opposing the death penalty since 1976.” (see Roger Thomas, Death in Pennsylvania: James V. Bennett Revisited )

WHEREAS The Social Principles of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church - 2000 (68f) specifies; "We oppose capital punishment and urge its elimination from all criminal codes."

WHEREAS the United Methodist Conferences in Pennsylvania support our legislature's efforts regarding the death penalty, and specifically:

1) We encourage the passage of legislation such as Senate Bills 23 and 24 of Session 2001, which would eliminate the death sentence from our Commonwealth.

2) We encourage the passage of legislation such as Senate Bill 25 of Session 2001 or House Bill 1111 of Session 2001, which would suspend executions for two years while a study was conducted to determine whether (a) defendants who are sentenced to death are in fact guilty of first degree murder; (b) defendants in death penalty cases are provided adequate and experienced counsel and adequate resources for the defense of their cases at the trial, appellate and post-conviction stages; (c) race does not play an impermissible role in determining which defendants are sentenced to death; and (d) death penalty cases are handled similarly by all district attorneys throughout this Commonwealth.

3) We encourage the passage of legislation such as Senate Bill 26 Session 2001, which would protect the mentally retarded from execution.

4) We encourage the passage of legislation such as Senate Bill 27 of Session 2001, which would protect minor children from execution.

5) We encourage the passage of legislation such as Senate Bills 28 and 29 of Session 2001, which would allow the victims' families to express their wishes regarding the death penalty to the court regarding the death penalty.

6) We celebrate the passage of legislation such as Senate Bill 589 of Session 2001, which will allow the admission of DNA evidence.

7) We celebrate the passage of legislation such as Senate Bill 869 of Session 2001, which provides for the training of attorneys for death penalty cases, and urge its implementation.

8) We urge the passage of legislation that, "Before making a sentencing determination, the judge (must) instruct the jury that its determination may not involve consideration of race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, or sex of either the defendant or the victim."

8) We urge the passage of legislation that, "No person shall be put to death in the execution of a sentence that was imposed based on race. A finding that race was the basis of the decision to seek the death sentence may be established if the court finds that race was a statistically significant factor in decisions to seek or to impose the sentence of death."

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that this Conference of the United Methodist Church goes on record that "We oppose capital punishment and urge its elimination from (our) criminal codes."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we encourage the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass legislation, such as the current Bills, which will reform or eliminate capital punishment from our Commonwealth.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a record of this action be sent, by the Executive Director of A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania, to the Governor, President pro-tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate, and Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and shall report this action to the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee of both the House and Senate of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania, the Holy Boldness Mission Network, the clergy and the laity are urged to provide testimony, support and encouragement to the members of the Pennsylvania legislature urging the introduction and passage of such legislation.

This Resolution was adopted by all four conferences of the United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania. It was presented to the Majority Leader of both the House and Senate on June 14, 2002.

Senate Bill 589, authorizing DNA, passed the Senate 50-0 on June 28, 2002, and passed the House later that afternoon 201-0. It was signed by the Governor on July 1, 2002.

2001 Resolution 2000 Resolution