wfn.org | UCC Pastoral letter urges activism on health care reform

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

UCC Pastoral letter urges activism on health care reform

> Written by Staff Reports
> July 28, 2009

In a pastoral letter addressed to members of the United Church of
Christ, church leaders have called upon churches "to actively work
towards the creation of a national health care system and to affirm
the moral and justice imperatives of equal access for all people."

The UCC's letter was signed by current General Minister and President
the Rev. John H. Thomas, incoming General Minister and President the
Rev. Geoffrey Black, Executive Minister for Justice and Witness
Ministries the Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo, and Minister for Health Care
Justice Barbara T. Baylor.

Citing the UCC's recent passage of a church-wide resolution urging
advocacy in support of healthcare for all, the letter promotes a
personal call to action as a means of implementing equitable access to
and delivery of care.

UCC members are encouraged to contact their elected officials,
identify themselves to the lawmaker as members of the United Church of
Christ, and register their concerns for a health care plan that
includes the seven points agreed to by an interfaith coalition:

> * Coverage for all persons

> * Access regardless of ability to pay

> * A full set of benefits

> * A choice of physicians and other providers

* Elimination of racial and ethnic and other health care disparities

* Waiver of pre-existing condition exclusions without any age limits

* A publicly available, government administered, insurance option

Additional actions include gathering delegates from congregations to
visit the home offices of legislators during their August recess,
attending the "Health Care Now!" rally July 30 in Washington, D.C.,
and organizing a Jericho march in communities around the nation
insisting that the walls of inequitable health care come down.

The UCC joins a large and diverse interfaith coalition in calling for
health care reform. At the July 7 Faith Leaders Summit on Health Care
held in Washington, D.C., this coalition stated, "No longer can we
afford to squander the hopes and dreams of the American people through
a much-too-costly system that contributes to economic despair."

The UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries will issue health care
related action alerts throughout August including a call for a
preach/teach in, group lobbying information, phone chain organization
and a letters to the editor campaign.