Perspectives Theology and Policy United Church of Christ United Church of Christ
November 1999
The United Church of Christ 18th General Synod (1991) voted a pronouncement and a priority with the goal to “enlist all members of the UCC and its constituent parts in study and action, so that they may be knowledgeable and empowered to work for the establishment of an affordable, accessible health care system for all persons residing in the United States.” In response to the recommendation from General Synod Eighteen, and in recognition that health care continues to rank as a leading health issue for our country, the United Church Board of Homeland Ministries adopted the following resolution.WHEREAS, we believe that health care is a basic right and not a privilege; and
WHEREAS, the gospels convey a message from God — a very powerful message that is the Church’s marching order to meet the issue of affordable, accessible health care for all; andWHEREAS, medical and health research have proven beyond question that poverty is the single strongest predictor of disease, disability and premature death, and that poverty is also the strongest predictor of blocked access to medical care; and
WHEREAS, an estimated 90 million people have little or no health insurance; and WHEREAS, rationed care, loss of doctor choice, reduced quality of care and higher costs have now become the norm rather than the exception;THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the United Church Board of Homeland Ministries calls upon conferences, associations, and local churches to awake and rise to this epidemic of health care injustice and abuse of the health care system; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries encourages local churches, conferences, associations, instrumentalities, organizations, and health and welfare institutions associated with the UCC to once again join with the National Council of Churches and other denominations in the movement to raise the visibility of “Universal Health Care in the 2000 electoral season.”BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries encourages local churches, conferences, associations, instrumentalities, organizations, and health and welfare institutions associated with the UCC to join in education and advocacy activities to advance legislation that support universal health care;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries re-appoint the UCC Health Task Force to work in concert with the Office of Church in Society (OCIS), the Office for Communication, the Office of Church Life and Leadership, UCC Health and Welfare Coordinating Council, the UCC Parish Nurse and Physician’s Network and the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) to revisit this issue and to develop new action plans and strategies for empowering our local churches to work for the establishment of Health Care for All.
United Church Board for Homeland Ministries
Health and Welfare Ministry in the Division of the American Missionary Association
Contact: Barbara Baylor, Minister for Health and Wellness
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