Faithful Reform in Health Care

Faith_letter_Jan2010

Organizational signers of the letter to date:

Add your organization to the list!

(Signers as of February 18, 2010, updated weekly)

National Organizations:

Adorers of the Blood of Christ
African Methodist Episcopal Church
American Association of Pastoral Counselors
American Baptist Churches, USA
American Friends Service Committee
American Muslim Health Professionals
Association of Professional Chaplains
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Church Women United
Community of Christ Ecumenical Ministries
Daughters of Mary and Joseph
Disciples Justice Action Network
The Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelicals for Social Action
Faithful America
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Interfaith Worker Justice
Islamic Medical Association of North America
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jewish Women International
Maryknoll Sisters
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
National Black Church Initiative
National Council of Churches of Christ USA
National Episcopal Health Ministries
National Ministries, American Baptist Churches, USA
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
PICO National Network
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
Progressive National Baptist Convention
RESULTS Faith in Action Project
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of St. Joseph Third Order of St. Francis Leadership Team
Sisters of the Holy Names
Sojourners
The Beatitudes Society
The Blue Mountain Lotus Society (Buddhist)
The National Advocacy Center, Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Union for Reform Judaism
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

State/Regional Organizations:

Albany Area United Methodist Church Advocacy Resource Team
Arizona Ecumenical Council
Arkansas Interfaith Alliance
California Council of Churches
Christian Activities Coalition, Connecticut
Colorado Council of Churches
Collaborative Center for Justice, Inc., Connecticut
Daughters of Mary and Joseph, California
Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Faith Inspired Alliance for Health Care Reform, Washington
Florida-Bahamas Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Florida Church Women United Ecumenical Action
Florida Council of Churches
Global Justice Ministry, Metropolitan Community Churches, New York
Health Action New Mexico
Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care Faith Caucus
Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care of Connecticut
Kansas/Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Commission
Kentucky Council of Churches
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado
Lutheran Advocacy – Illinois
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – New Mexico
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Oregon
Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi
Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota
Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin
Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey
Lutheran Office of Public Policy – California
Lutheran Office on Public Policy in Maryland
Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State
Maine Council of Churches
Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network
Mid-Michigan Coalition for Health Care Reform
Mid-Valley Health Care Advocates, Oregon
Missouri Health Care for All
Missouri IMPACT
Missouri Jobs with Justice
Montgomery Health Care Action, Maryland
New Mexico Conference of Churches
North Carolina Council of Churches
North Carolina Fair Share
North Council of Imams
Northwest Minnesota Pax Christi
OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology, Arkansas
Parish Nurse Ministries of New York, Inc.
Pax Christi Florida and Call to Action Pax Christi Northeast Florida
Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Advocacy Resource Team
Pennsylvania Central Conference, United Church of Christ, Justice and Peace Ministries Team
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Presbytery of Baltimore, Maryland
Rhode Island State Council of Churches
Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio
Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Leadership Team
Sisters of St. Joseph, Massachusetts
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis, Missouri
South Carolina Christian Action Council
Texas Impact
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland
Ursulines of Tildonk for Justice and Peace, New York
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Washington Association of Churches
Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice
Western North Carolina Conference Methodist Federation for Social Action
Wisconsin Council of Churches

SCHIP Faith Statements

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE

Statements about Children's Health Care from the Faith Community

CLICK HERE to send what you read and hear from people of faith about children's health care... statements, press releases, editorials, letters to the editor, etc.

The debate over children's health insurance has been on-going since 2007 when the State Children's Health Insurance Program was first due for re-authorization. Below are numerous statements from faith leaders when the debate was most active in Congress.

Letter: Faith leaders urge Congress to seek common ground for the common good (OCT 24, 2007)
Editorial: Baptists Hold Key to Overriding Veto on Health Insurance Bill for Children," Robert Parham, Baptist Center for Ethics (OCT 8, 2007)
Letter: Bishop Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (OCT 5, 2007)
News report: Faith Leaders Denounce Veto of Children's Insurance Program, Bob Allen, EthicsDaily.com (OCT 5, 2007)
Blog post: Bush's SCHIP Veto is Morally Unacceptable, Jim Wallis, Sojourners (OCT 5, 2007)
Sign-on letter: National faith offices urge Congress to override the veto (OCT 3, 2007)
Statement: James Winkler, General Secretary, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society (OCT 3, 2007)
Letter: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (OCT 3, 2007)
Letter: Faith leaders work to override Bush child health veto, Rev. Heyward Wiggins, III, PICO (OCT 3, 2007)
Letter: Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach, Director, Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office (OCT 2, 2007)
Press statement: Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (OCT 2, 2007)
Full-page ad: Washington Times, PICO (OCT 2007)
Sign-on letter: Grassroots faith leaders urge the President to sign CHIP, PICO (SEPT 24, 2007)
Letter: Parish Nurses urge both the Senate and the House to re-authorize and expand SCHIP (SEPT 24, 2007)
Sign-on letter: State faith leaders urge both the Senate and the House to re-authorize and expand SCHIP (SEPT 21, 2007)
Sign-on letter: National faith offices urge both the Senate and the House to re-authorize and expand SCHIP (SEPT 20, 2007)

Vigil Sponsors

Daily Activities and Sponsors

"Interfaith Virtual Vigil of Prayer, Hope, and Action"

Vigil Kick-Off
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Sent "A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care " to Congress with signatures of over 200 organizations & 4000+ individuals

Wednesday, January 13
College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy

Thursday, January 14
National Institute of Business & Industrial Chaplains

Friday, January 15
Arkansas Interfaith Alliance
Delivered a letter signed by faith leaders to Arkansas members of Congress

Saturday, January 16
Faithful Reform in Health Care

Monday, January 18
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Sent email to entire listserv and blog post in remembrance of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tuesday, January 19
Bon Secours Health System, Inc.

Wednesday, January 20
American Muslim Health Professionals
Hand-delivered letters to the offices of key Congressional leadership

Thursday, January 21
Faith Caucus, Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care
Conference call with statewide faith leaders; sign-on letter to Congress; call-in day

Friday, January 22
Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families
Mass mailing and outreach on health care as part of their King Days of Service project; messages of support for reform sent to their members, partners in the nonprofit sector, and to their elected leadership.

Sunday, January 24
California Council of Churches
Kicked off a week of activities that were held throughout the state (services, sermons, presentations, letter-writing, phone calls, and more)

United Methodist Church General Board of Church & Society
Urged congregations to pray and to focus on the church's position oh health care reform; encouraged individuals to sign up for the 24/7 prayer times

Monday, January 25
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Took over 250 teens to Capitol Hill to lobby with a message for health care reform now

Faithful Reform in Health Care and Washington Interreligious Staff Community Health Care Working Group
Sent letter to Congress and President from 56 faith organizations urging them to move forward on meaningful health care reform

Faithful Reform in Health Care
Sponsored faith call-in activities throughout the week in collaboration with other faith groups

Tuesday, January 26
United Church of Christ
Call-in day through its entire membership

American Friends Service Committee
Launched an effort to encourage members to write letters to the editors of their local newspapers

Faithful Reform in Health Care and Washington Interreligious Staff Community Health Care Working Group
Weekly conference call with advocates across the country

Wednesday, January 27
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Sent email to advocacy network urging participation in the sign-on letter

Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Email alert to members, asking them to sign on to the letter
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Launched "A Call for Political Courage, Vision, Leadership, and Faith" sign-on letteras a follow-up to sign-on letter that was delivered to Congress on January 25th

Thursday, January 28
United Church of Christ
Call-in day through out it justice network

Faithful Reform in Health Care
Co-sponsored a rally with Families USA in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in DC

Friday, January 29
Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office
Hand delivered letters to Senate and House leadership

Faithful Reform in Health Care
Faith networking breakfast at Families USA Health Action

Sunday, January 31
United Church of Christ
Observed Health and Wellness Sunday & encouraged the use of the litany "Holy Boldness"

Monday, February 1
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Email to entire listserv and blog post

Tuesday, February 2
Washington Interreligious Staff Community Health Care Working Group
Meeting with Congressman Grijalva's staff

Medical Whistleblower
Interfaith Virtual Vigil on Blog Talk Radio

Wednesday, February 3
Faithful Reform in Health Care and Washington Interreligious Staff Community Health Care Working Group
Weekly conference call with advocates across the country
Released new PowerPoint "Health Care Reform 2010: Seeking a Moral Vision"

Thursday, February 4
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Presentation to and dialogue with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility

Friday, February 5
Wisconsin Council of Churches
Sent email alert urging members to participate in "A Call for Political Courage, Vision, Leadership, and Faith

Tuesday, February 9
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Email to entire list and blog post

Thursday, February 11
Texas IMPACT
Sent an email alert urging members to visit their members of Congress during the President's Day recess, add their names to the sign-on letter and participate in the Interfaith Virtual Vigil

Friday, February 12
Faithful Reform in Health Care and Washington Interreligious Staff Community Health Care Working Group
Weekly conference call with advocates across the country

Saturday, February 13

Sunday, February 14

Monday, February 15

Tuesday, February 16

Wednesday, February 17

Thursday, February 18

Friday, February 19

Saturday, February 20

Sunday, February 21

Monday, February 22

Tuesday, February 23

Wednesday, February 24

Thursday, February 25
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Washington Interreligious Staff Community Health Care Working Group
Delivery of "A Call for Political Courage, Leadership, Vision, and Faith" to President Obama and all Members of Congress

Friday, February 26

Saturday, February 27

Sunday, February 28

Other advocacy resources

Please let us know about other Advocacy Resources that should be included.

CLICK HERE

Faith-Based Advocacy

A Faithful Reform in Health Care resource that gives a brief description of what faith communities may and may not do when advocating for social reform.

Moral Testimony

Throughout 2006, faith leaders spoke before the Illinois Adequate Health Care Task Force in support of affordable quality health care for all in their state. Full transcripts of their testimony are available on the Campaign for Better Health Care website.

Tool for Advocates

Using a Good Shepherd Lens is provided by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd to help advocates determine where they stand on an issue and what course of action they should take.

Public Policy Advocacy Guide

Speak Truth to Power: A Guide for Congregations Taking Public Policy Positions

A resource provided by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism to help synagogues understand their role in advocacy on social justice issues; a "hands-on guide that provides step-by-step advice about how to develop a process for taking policy positions and how to adopt and implement such positions."

Citizen Leadership Resources

Faith in Texas (F.I.T.) "How-To" Handouts

Resources produced by Texas IMPACT to help people of faith engage in voter registration, issue forums, working with lawmakers, developing congregational social justice ministry and more.

Public Policy Advocacy Guide

The "Public Policy Advocacy Guide" from the Wisconsin Council of Churches offers insights into why people of faith should be involved in advocacy and tips for being an effective advocate.

Tips for contacting legislators

The Pennsylvania Council of Churches offers an important perspective on why personal contacts elected officials is the most effective form of advocacy.

Health Care Justice: The Time Is Now

A guide produced by the United Church of Christ to help reposition congregations for advocacy and action.

Top Ten Ways to Work With Religious Leaders

Tips from Faithful Reform in Health Care about how advocates can connect with people of faith and their leaders in their local communities.

Inviting a Member of Congress to your Congregation

Step by step guidelines for inviting a Member of Congress to speak to your congregation about health care reform

Meeting with Members of Congress at their Offices

Guidelines for planning, conducting, and following-up a meeting with a Member of Congress at his or her office

Participating in Public Forums

Suggestions for getting your point across at public forums