‘The Bible and Health Advocacy’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has prepared a resource to help faith groups discuss health-care reform. The resource, “The Bible and Health Advocacy: Ancient Vision, Modern Imperative,” is an easily read one-page chart that contains biblical references and discussion topics related to “abundance,” “community,” “humanity” and “stewardship.”

“The Bible and Health Advocacy” is a downloadable resource to help faith groups discuss health-care reform.

The chart is also accompanied by United Methodist Social Principle ¶162V: “Right to Health Care.” That Social Principle, contained in the United Methodist 2008 Book of Discipline, was adopted by the denomination’s highest policy-making body, General Conference, last year. It declares:

Health care is a basic human right. … Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent and restore health after injury or illness is a responsibility each person owes others and government owes to all, a responsibility government ignores at its peril.

Last year, General Conference also adopted a resolution that supports a U.S. single-payer system. That resolution, #3201 in the 2008 Book of Resolutions, urges United Methodists to exert influence through all structures and means “to connectionally advocate and fervently lobby the federal government for the adoption and implementation of a totally nonprofit health-insurance system, a single-payer system administered by the federal government.”

The discussion resource, “The Bible and Health Advocacy,” should enable small group discussions on biblical, denominational and personal positions. It is also an excellent resource for personal reflection on the issue that is at the top of so many newspaper, newscasts and web blogs currently.

The Social Principle cites biblical references, such as John 10:10b, Psalm 146 and Ezekiel 34:4a. “The Bible and Health Advocacy” adds five more verses to consider: Galatians 6:2,5; Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 6:12; Psalm 95:5; and Luke 12:48b.

“The Bible and Health Advocacy” addresses its four primary subject areas of abundance, community, humanity and stewardship from seven perspectives:

1. Scriptural grounding;
2. A moral test;
3. Competing societal concepts;
4. Health-care issues affected;
5. How biblical intent is thwarted;
6. Symptoms of failure; and
7. How to live out God’s intention.

The discussion point on how to live out God’s intention focuses on how reform of the U.S. system can provide accessible, inclusive, accountable health care available to all.

The discussion resource can be downloaded free in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format at Bible & Health Advocacy.

The resource contains the full Social Principle on “Right to Health Care,” which states that United Methodists “believe it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care.”

United Methodists are invited to participate in the “John 10:10 Challenge” to raise the faith community’s voice in support of comprehensive U.S. health-care reform. The challenge, issued by GBCS, is based on Jesus’ declaration that he came so all “may have life, and have it abundantly.” A new website, 10:10 Challenge, contains resources to enable persons to be informed, engaged and empowered to begin advocacy for U.S. health-care reform.

Health & Wholeness

For more on health care-related topics, visit the “Health & Wholeness” page on the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) website: Health and Wholeness.

Action Network

The Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of GBCS’s Alcohol, Other Addictions and Health Care program, supervises a Health & Wholeness Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues such as access to health care, Medicare, Medicaid, mental health access and parity. She issues “action alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Health & Wholeness Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church and Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641.

Cynthia Abrams can be reached at (202) 488-5636.