Lutherans raise awareness about health care issues

by Jodi Deike, ELCA News Service

This summer the federal government is considering
comprehensive reform of the U.S. health care system.
"It is no exaggeration to say that this summer might
be the best opportunity in a generation to achieve
any sort of comprehensive health care reform," said
Robert Francis, director for domestic policy,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Washington Office. "This is why it is so important
for people of faith to come together, talk about
this issue and make their voices heard."

On June 24 the ELCA and other faith communities
around the country are uniting in Washington, D.C.,
to mobilize for "An Interfaith Service of Witness
and Prayer." Lutherans are invited to join this
effort by raising awareness of health care issues
in their own communities and congregations,
according to Francis.

To foster discussions about health care, the ELCA
created "Health Care Sunday" and "Health Care Cafe"
congregational tool kits. The tool kits offer
suggestions such as healing prayers, inviting
someone to speak about health care and hosting
a health care cafe to discuss health and health
care reform. "We tried to create resources that
are very accessible and open," said Francis. "Our
hope is that these resources are just the first
step in contemplation, education, and eventual
action in the health care reform discussion."
A Health Care Sunday is also a way to affirm and
support one of the missions of the ELCA as stated
in the "Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor"
social statement, said Francis.