wfn.org | United Methodists push for adequate medical care for kids

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

CLEVELAND (UMNS) - United Methodists voted on May 9 to urge the U.S.
Congress to remove the exemption in federal law that allows parents to
withhold medical care to their children based on religious beliefs.

Congress enacted the religious exemption in 1996, and the petition notes
that many children have died or suffered permanent injury because parents
believe that the law allows denying medical care for religious reasons.

The petition on medical care was one of many adopted by the 992 delegates to
the 2000 General Conference, which is meeting through May 12. The
legislative assembly, which gathers every four years, is the only entity
that speaks for the denomination.

Delegates defeated a petition urging states to re-examine their laws on
divorce and to repeal "no fault" divorce, which allows spouses to end their
marriage on any grounds. 

In another debate, the General Conference turned down a number of proposals
attempting to broaden the representation on the Judicial Council, the
denomination's supreme court. The proposals were aimed at ensuring that each
of the church's five U.S. jurisdictions would have at least one member on
the court. 

The delegates approved a limit of two consecutive eight-year terms for
members of the council. After the term limit, delegates voted that a person
could be re-elected to the court after taking a four-year hiatus.

Turning to matters about cloning and other reproduction-related issues,
delegates asked the social action arm of the church to form a bio-ethics
task force to advise the denomination on relevant ethical issues. 

Between actions, delegates took time out to commemorate the 55th anniversary
of World War II.  In a minute of silence, they remembered that 25 percent of
the population in Russia was killed and that soldiers and citizens of other
countries also died in the conflict.

"We remember that we are all brothers and sisters, and that every war is a
civil war," said Bishop Ruediger R. Minor of the Eurasia Area with offices
in Moscow. He asked the delegates to pray for the millions who died in World
War II and in other conflicts of the 20th century. Delegates also prayed for
the victims of wars in Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Chechnya and other parts of the
world.

Delegates also voted to continue two churchwide initiatives that strengthen
the black church and focus on young people.

Established by the 1996 General Conference, the Strengthening the Black
Church for the 21st Century initiative seeks to reconstruct and revitalize
the denomination's 2,500 African-American churches. Delegates voted to adopt
a plan of action as the basis for continuing the emphasis for the next four
years. The program has a $2.3 million budget.

The Shared Mission Focus on Young People was created by the 1996 General
Conference to focus the church's attention on the issues and needs of young
people. The delegates voted to continue the effort, with a budget of $2.9
million, and to make young people a key priority for the next four years.

Delegates also approved two new efforts, a $3.2 million Korean-American
initiative and a $1.8 million Asian American Language Ministry Study.

The language ministry study will involve researching the needs of
Asian-American communities, developing recommendations, and establishing
funding priorities.

Estimated costs for the four ministries were referred to the church's
finance and administration agency.
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--Linda Green

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United Methodist News Service
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