Reforming our health care system cannot wait

I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

In the sacred bonds of our common humanity, we give thanks for the life that we share and for your calling, God, to care for each other. We acknowledge that we have failed to care for every member of our human family, and have not ensured that all may receive the health care they need for the life that you, our God, intend. We pray for forgiveness for hearts that have been slow to feel another’s pain, for hands that have been still when caring touch was needed, and for voices that have remained silent while millions suffer for lack of health care. We envision a society in which everyone is afforded health, wholeness and human dignity. Grant to us, God, the compassion to put the needs of hurting people ahead of our financial self-interests. Empower us with the strength for this journey, that our hearts and minds may be transformed for the common good, your beloved community. Amen.

— Adapted from the Interfaith Week of Prayer for Health Care
Washington, D.C., June 19-26, 2009

Resources for Health Care Reform

Direct the General Assembly Council to advocate for, educate about and otherwise pursue the goal of obtaining legislation that enacts single-payer universal national health insurance as the program that best responds to the moral imperative of the gospel; monitoring progress toward this goal and reporting back to the next two General Assemblies 2010 and 2012.

— 218th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2008

Get additional resources on health care reform.

1. The Washington Office of the PC(USA) issued this statement in August 2009, “Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Calls for Just Health Care Reform.” Download this statement.
2. For ongoing updates on legislation and resources, visit the Washington Office Web site.
3. More denominations are developing Web sites for health care reform. Visit one of the newest sites from the United Methodists.
4. The Christian Century has two articles on health care reform in the July 14, 2009 edition.  They are “Pursuing the possible: religious voices on health care” by Robert D. Francis and “Health-care fix: the role of a public option” by Gary Dorrien.
5. The July 10, 2009, episode of Bill Moyers Journal on PBS is on health care reform and the interview with Wendell Potter (a retired health insurance communications executive who is testifying in Congress about the ways the insurance industry is working against the health coverage reforms) is recommended. Moyers’ essay on July 17 and an interview with Trudy Lieberman and Marcia Angell on July 24 are also well worth the time. The July 10 episode would be great for watching at church and discussion afterward. Read the August 26, 2009, The New York Times op-ed interview with Wendell Potter, “Health Care Fit for Animals,” written by Nicholas D. Kristof.
6. Frontline, Public Broadcasting System, “Sick Around the World — Can the U.S. learn anything from the rest of the world about how to run a health care system?” How five other capitalist democracies — the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland — deliver health care, and what the United States might learn from their successes and their failures. The documentary includes discussion and teacher’s guide that may be used with your congregations.
7. Families USA covers many health care and health policy related issues with links to other websites and organizations as well as timely articles.
8. The Sojourners Web site includes a one-page study guide for health care reform (to be handed out in church) and a multi-page study guide for facilitators of groups. These guides are both free and downloadable. Sojourners aso offers free downloadable interfaith prayer service for use in your community.
9. The Center for Responsive Politics is a source for tracking where special interest groups have used their money. It is possible to track any donations and trends by industry, party or politician.
10. The Thoughtful Christian publishes study guides for use in the church. They are downloadable for a small fee. They have a new one on health care reform as well as some that were written in 2006 that are good introductory material for discussions on health care reform.

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