Join Us! Interfaith Week of Prayer for Health Care - June 19-26
The largest faith mobilization EVER for health care reform has begun! Final plans are moving into place for the June 24th Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer in Washington DC, and local Echo Events are beginning all across the country. If there were ever a time for people of faith to raise their vision and voices for a health care future that includes all of us, IT IS NOW!
An Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer will be held in Washington, DC on June 24, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, at Freedom Plaza in view of our nation's Capitol. Together we will call for health care legislation that embraces our values of compassion, common good, shared responsibility, stewardship of resources, and concern for those who are most vulnerable.
In addition "Echo Events” will be held in congregations and communities all across the country. As co-sponsors of these events, the United Methodist Women and the General Board of Church and Society urge Methodists across the country to commit to participation in the Prayer Service in Washington DC, or hosting an event in your congregation or community.
Sign today: "A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care"
"A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care” is circulating through our communities of faith for signatures in preparation for the Interfaith Week of Prayer for Health Care (June 19-26). This Vision Statement and the signatures will be delivered to every member of Congress and to key administration officials during that week. In addition, an abridged statement will be presented to government leaders during the June 24th Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer in Washington, DC.
The Women’s Division and the General Board of Church and Society are signers of this Statement and urge Methodists across the country to add their names to this important document. Visit the links below to add your name to the list! Deadline: Wednesday, June 17.
Organizational sign-on (congregations, conferences, districts, UMW chapters, etc.)
Download a handout (PDF)
READ Book of Resolutions 2008: #3201, Health Care for All in the United States, Pages 346-355
Call-in days for health care - June 22-24:
Health care reform is going to happen this year. What that reform looks like will depend on who has the ear of our elected leaders. If we want a health care system that reflects our faith-inspired values, it will be up to us to communicate those values.
Let's overwhelm the Capitol Switchboard with calls that promote compassion, the common good, shared responsibility, and concern for those who are vulnerable, and faithful stewardship of our abundant health care resources!
TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-888-797-8717
(You will be connected to the Capitol Switchboard. Ask for the office of one of your Senators or Representative, and then ask to speak to the health care staff person.)
Sample faith-inspired messages:
Introduction: Hello. My name is ____________, and I am a member of [ name of your congregation / community of faith ] in [ city ], [state ].
Content: [Pick ONE statement from below. The statement may need to be adapted based on what you know about the Senator's/Representative's view on this issue.)
I believe that:
- In the sacred act of creation, we are blessed with the talents, wisdom and abundant resources necessary to meet each other's needs. I urge Senator/Representative __________to promote legislation that demonstrates good stewardship and distributes our health care resources effectively, efficiently, and fairly.
- Health care is a shared responsibility that is grounded in our common humanity. I urge Senator/Representative _________to support legislation that demonstrates our care for one another, promotes human dignity, and shows compassion by protecting those who are most vulnerable.
- Humanity is sacred. I urge Senator/Representative __________to support health care legislation that contributes to our health and wholeness, so that we can live out our fullest potential as individuals and as contributing members of society.
- As spiritual and sacred vessels, we are responsible for the care of our bodies to the best of our ability, AND for the care of one another regardless of individual circumstances. I urge Senator/Representative __________to support health care legislation in which individuals and institutions work in partnership to ensure our physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Conclusion: Please urge the Senator/Representative do all he/she can to make sure that legislation is passed THIS YEAR for a health care future that includes everyone and works well for all of us. (If you already know he/she is supportive, acknowledge that!) Thank you!
This toll-free number was made possible with support from the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries.
Faithful Reform in Health Care invites faith groups to circulate and use this toll-free number in support of non-partisan federal goals, providing that the alerts are not linked to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work.
Washington Office of Public Policy
100 Maryland Avenue, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20002 June, 2009