CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Seven "storytellers," five commentators and 360 registered guests from around the world got together on the Web at http://www.faithandlifeforum.org/ for four weeks of conversation about health, health care, health care professions and the Christian faith. "For the Love of Life: Living Faithfully for Good Health" was sponsored Sept. 10-Oct. 7 by the Faith and Life Forum -- an independent nonprofit corporation organized by lay members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"As Christians we live in a world of incredible scientific and medical advances. Yet, there are many people who experience pain, disillusionment, frustrations, dilemmas, shortfalls and problems even as they are healed through, serve in or simply engage with our country's 'health care system,'" said the online conference thesis.
The conference targeted several questions: "How do we as people of faith view our vocations of self, family, workplace and community as they pertain to health and this health care system? What is our responsibility for our own health and the health of the public? What is our understanding of our vocation as a health care worker or as a patient?"
The seven storytellers were anonymous. "Carole" was caring for her children and her parents, "Claire" was a mother and doctor in family practice, "Cornelia" was a doctoral candidate studying public health, "Diana" was a pathologist working in cancer and blood disease research and clinical laboratories, "John" was the retired director of a local YMCA, "Karen" was an organ recipient living off disability payments, and "Lisa" is a young nurse working in the psychiatric unit of a local hospital.
After each told her or his story, each of the five commentators shared his or her opinion of what was said. The five commentators were Dr. Kenneth Bakken, president, Health Vision International, Seattle; Helen Doerpinghaus, associate professor of insurance, Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, Columbia; the Rev. Daryl "Tony" S. Everett, professor of pastoral care, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia; Dr. Norma J. Hirsch, physician, health care consultant and end-of-life counselor, Des Moines, Iowa; and Wisconsin State Representative Gregg Underheim (R-54th District), Oshkosh.
The stories and commentaries were designed to spur conversation among the 360 participants. Registration information showed the group represented a variety of occupations -- from attorneys to journalists -- and a variety of faith perspectives, including Jewish participants.
Everett served as the conference theologian-in-residence. He opened each day's conversation with a Bible study to lead the discussion in a theological direction. "How do you experience comfort from others? From Christ? How do you share this comfort with others?"
Participants were encouraged to apply the stories and lessons to their own experiences with health, vocation and faith. They were given a "discussion board" where e-mail messages could be posted at any time, and there were live online chats each Wednesday evening during the conference.
Registrants were also given a different poll question each day. For example, 60 people answered the question: "Should all Americans be required to carry health insurance?" Ten percent strongly agreed; 26.7 percent agreed; 28.3 percent were not sure; 26.7 percent disagreed; and 8.3 percent strongly disagreed.
When the idea of the online conference was taking shape, "the topic of our nation's 'health care system' was high on the agenda," wrote a member of the board of the Faith and Life Forum, the Rev. John P. Trump, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Columbia, S.C., in the conference's closing statement. "Little did we know that on September 11 our world as we knew it would change."
"Our interviews, commentators, and thoughts posted on the bulletin boards clearly indicate that allocation of resources in our world is a major factor in health care for all people, and that simply throwing money at the problem of inadequate health care for all will not solve anything," wrote Trump.
"Equally clear has been the idea that as people of faith we are responsible to care for ourselves and others. We are called to look for ways to keep ourselves as healthy as we can. Most importantly, we are called to see 'health' as something that involves both body and soul," he said.
"With God's help we have walked in another person's shoes, be they a nurse, a doctor, a patient, a caregiver or whomever. We have listened and learned," said Trump. "We hope and pray that discussions begun here might continue in all the places where your faith journeys continue," he said.
"For the Love of Life" was Faith and Life Forum's second virtual conference. In February 2000 "For the Love of Money" examined the ELCA social statement on economic life.
"For the Love of Life" was underwritten in part by a grant from the Wheat Ridge Ministries based in Itasca, Ill. Wheat Ridge is an independent Lutheran charitable organization that provides support for new church-related health and hope ministries.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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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.
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