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UMNS# 173-United Methodists have resource on life and death issues


From "NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>
Date Wed, 23 Mar 2005 16:57:44 -0600

United Methodists have resource on life and death issues

Mar. 23, 2005

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - United Methodists have a resource for considering
the type of issues raised in the Terri Schiavo case, according to the
chief executive of the denomination's social action agency.

Schiavo is the brain-damaged Florida woman at the center of a long
dispute between her husband and her parents over whether her feeding
tube should be disconnected to allow her to die. After her husband
prevailed and the tube recently disconnected, her parents continued
their petitions in the court and Congress passed a law allowing federal
courts to intervene in the case.

"The Terri Schiavo case is heart wrenching and it calls us to examine
the difficult issues related to quality of life and our own
participation in life with life decisions," said Jim Winkler, chief
executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.

"We extend our thoughts and prayers to all who are intimately involved
with the decision knowing that God is sovereignty over life and death
and God's love for us is abundant."

Winkler said that a good resource for church members is the resolution,
"Faithful Care for Persons Suffering and Dying," that was passed by the
2004 United Methodist General Conference, the denomination's top
legislative body. The resolution can be found online at
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/issues/resolutions.php?resolutionid=194.

Congregations can make available to members the necessary information
and forms about an Advance Directive, also known as a Living Will,
Winkler noted. Forms are offered, free of charge, for each state by The
National Hospice and Paliative Care Organization, a nonprofit
organization based in Arlington, Va. Forms are available by sending an
e-mail to consumers@nhpco.org or by calling (800) 658-8898.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org


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