DENVER (ELCA) -- The 1999 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved the development of a social statement on health and ethical challenges of health care Aug. 20. The social statement will be considered by the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center. There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,038 voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Hope for a New Century."
"More than 43 million individuals do not have health care insurance and the number is rising," said the Rev. Ronald W. Duty, assistant director for studies, ELCA Division for Church in Society. "The lives and health of people are precious in the sight of God." Duty presented the proposal to the assembly.
There are four components to the proposed social statement on health and ethical challenges of health care, said Duty. The first is what health and health care means to the church from a biblical, theological perspective. The second, Duty said, is to address the access to and equity of health care. Third, the ELCA needs to take a fresh look at the relationship between the church and its related health care institutions. The fourth component is to discern the role of congregational health care, he said.
"I am proud to be a member of a church that cares about the wholeness of a believer's life -- the spiritual, mental and physical parts of a being," said John Prabhaker, voting member from the ELCA Northern Illinois Synod, Rockford, Ill. Prabhaker is a physician.
The ELCA Division for Church in Society (DCS) recommends topics for social statement development to the ELCA Church Council and the churchwide assembly for approval. The council and assembly may adopt, modify or reject the recommendations of the DCS board.
The DCS board has a working group on health and health care to begin a process of study on the topic. The working group will become the division's task force mandated to develop a social statement for consideration over the next four years.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
