From the very beginning of creation, Health and Wholeness is the ultimate design of God for humanity. Though life often thwarts that design, the health we have is a good gift of God. When God created humankind, God declared it to be very good. (Genesis 1:31). Among Jesus' statements on the purpose of his presence is the statement that he came that we might have abundant life. (John 10:10).
Many of the accounts of Jesus' ministry document how Jesus saw restoration to health as a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven becoming present amongst us. When John the elder wrote to Gaius (3 John 1:2), he wished for him physical health no less than spiritual. The biblical narrative is filled with stories of God's healing presence in the world. This includes spiritual, psychological, emotional, social, as well as physical healing. Christ's desire that we experience abundant life reflects God's desire that we experience spiritual, physical, and mental wholeness and healing.
Christ's healing ministry to all persons, even to the marginalized, put into practice this desire of God and expanded God's promises to the entire world.
For John and Charles Wesley, health was integral to salvation. In the Wesleyan understanding of salvation, Christ's self-giving on the cross not only freed us from the guilt of sin, but restored us to the divine image in which we were created, which includes health. John Wesley not only preached spiritual health, but worked to restore physical health among the impoverished people who heard his call. He wrote Primitive Physick, a primer on health and medicine for those too poor to pay for a doctor. He encouraged his Methodists to support the healthcare needs of the poor. Charles Wesley's hymns reflect early Methodism's awareness of spiritual health as a component of salvation.
Health in its fullest and most complete sense is Wholeness. The Bible expresses this Wholeness with the word "Shalom," which encompasses every facet of health, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, both of the individual and of the community.
Our advocacy focuses on achieving a global society of persons who have access to health and wholeness by emphasizing the Wesleyan understanding of social holiness extending to influence personal habits, public policy, and environmental and social factors that impact the Health and Wholeness of individuals and communities around the globe.
The rights and privileges a society bestows upon or withholds from those who comprise it indicate the relative esteem in which that society holds particular persons and groups of persons. We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God. We therefore work toward societies in which each person’s value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened. We support the basic rights of all persons to equal access to housing, education, communication, employment, medical care, legal redress for grievances, and physical protection. We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or economic status. Our respect for the inherent dignity of all persons leads us to call for the recognition, protection, and implementation of the principles of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights so that communities and individuals may claim and enjoy their universal, indivisible, and inalienable rights.
Health is a condition of physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. John 10:10b says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Stewardship of health is the responsibility of each person to whom health has been entrusted. Creating the personal, environmental, and social conditions in which health can thrive is a joint responsibility—public and private. We encourage individuals to pursue a healthy lifestyle and affirm the importance of preventive health care, health education, environmental and occupational safety, good nutrition,and secure housing in achieving health. Health care is a basic human right.
Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease, 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. In Ezekiel 34:4a, God points out the failures of the leadership of Israel to care for the weak: “You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured.” As a result all suffer. Like police and fire protection, health care is best funded through the government’s ability to tax each person equitably and directly fund the provider entities. Countries facing a public health crisis such as HIV/AIDS must have access to generic medicines and to patented medicines. We affirm the right of men and women to have access to comprehensive reproductive health/family planning information and services that will serve as a means to prevent unplanned pregnancies, reduce abortions, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. The right to health care includes care for persons with brain diseases, neurological conditions, or physical disabilities, who must be afforded the same access to health care as all other persons in our communities. It is unjust to construct or perpetuate barriers to physical or mental wholeness or full participation in community.
We believe it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care.
The elected members of the General Board of Church and Society have voted to join the following coalitions and organizations. The staff person responsible for maintaining a liaison with each group is listed.
General Secretary's Office
Faith and Politics Institute – James Winkler
The Faith and Politics Institute provides occasions for moral reflection and spiritual community to political leaders, drawing universal wisdom from a range of religious traditions. The Institute encourages civility and respect as spiritual values essential to democracy and strives to strengthen political leadership that contributes to healing the wounds that divide our nation and our world.
Alcohol and Other Addictions and Healthcare Work Area
Alcohol Policies Project, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) – Cynthia Abrams
A coalition which focuses on public and policy maker attention to leverage policy reforms that reduce the devastating health and social consequences of drinking.
Faith United Against Tobacco (FUAT) – Cynthia Abrams & Jim Winkler
A faith-based political action coalition dedicated to mobilizing the faith community to support proven solutions to reduce smoking. The coalition supports federal and state legislative priorities which promote tobacco prevention and cessation.
Health Care Now! (HCNow) – Jim Winkler and Cynthia Abrams
A coalition whose aim is to support the growing movement for a quality, national, single-payer, guaranteed, healthcare system for everybody in this country. They believe this can only be attained by removing the insurance companies from control of our healthcare.
Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems (CPAP) – Cynthia Abrams
A diverse coalition of public health, public interest, and faith-based organizations which promotes national policies to reduce alcohol problems and combat the political influence of alcoholic beverage industry interests in our nation's capital.
National Alliance for the Prevention of Underage Drinking (NAPUD) – Cynthia Abrams.
A coalition of public health, education, consumer, law enforcement, religious, child and family welfare, substance abuse treatment and prevention, and other national organizations dedicated to building and sustaining a broad societal commitment to reducing underage drinking. The National Alliance’s goal is: "To support and promote implementation of a comprehensive science-based national strategy to reduce underage drinking" as set forth in the National Academy of Sciences' September, 2003 report to Congress entitled, "Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility." The recommendations form the basis of a comprehensive national strategy to prevent underage drinking.
Partners for Effective National Tobacco Policy (PARTNERS) – Cynthia Abrams
A group of more than 60 public health and faith-based organizations dedicated to pursuing federal policies to reduce the death, disease, and disability caused by tobacco use.
National Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (TFK) – Cynthia Abrams
A private, non-profit organization committed to protecting children from tobacco addiction and secondhand smoke. The Campaign’s primary goals are to –
Inform the public about the toll tobacco takes in health, lives and money.
Change public policies at the federal, state and local levels to reduce tobacco use.
Educate young people about the dangers of smoking.
Support youth in becoming advocates for their own good health.
Expose tobacco industry marketing practices that addict kids.
National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG) – Cynthia Abrams
The National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG) is a grassroots educational and resourcing organization dedicated to informing the public about the dangers of gambling. The coalition compiles information on the adverse personal, social, economic and public health impacts of gambling and disseminates it to citizens and policy-makers at the local, state and national levels. NCALG reaches out to other national, state and local groups for support, especially in the faith-based, retail business, entertainment, mental health and law enforcement.
National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion (NCAGE) – Cynthia Abrams
Sister organization to the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, (NCAGE) is a political action coalition which opposes all forms of gambling at every level, (local, state, federal, international, and Internet) using every tool available. NCAGE representatives travel to states across the country to assist in grassroots organizing, and provide support for challenging local, state, gambling expansion initiatives and lobbies Congress to enact tighter restrictions and prohibition on gambling.
National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC) – Cynthia Abrams
The broadly representative alliance working to improve America’s health care. The coalition is comprised of almost 100 organizations, employing or representing about 150 million Americans. Members are united in the belief that we need – and can achieve – better, more affordable health care for all Americans.
Pathways is an interfaith coalition focused on mental illness issues. They provide technical assistance and resources which offer liturgical, educational materials, program models, and networking information to promote a caring ministry with people with mental illness and their families.
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