Baptist leaders from the Progressive National Baptist Convention, American Baptist Churches USA, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Minister Emeritus of a congregation affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists have signed a statement emphasizing the need for Health Care Reform. The statement signed by a diverse group of Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders is below:
Statement from Religious Leaders On Health Care Reform
A MATTER OF HEALTH…A MATTER OF WHOLENESS
Today health care reform has become an urgent priority, with many Americans fearful about the health care they now hold and more than 45 million lacking coverage altogether. Rising unemployment, underemployment and a decline in employment benefits have deprived many more of health care. The health of our neighbors and the wholeness of the nation now require that all segments of our society join in finding a solution to this national challenge.
“…Learn to do good, seek justice; rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
“…Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Matthew 22:39
“…Ye who believe! Stand up firmly for Allah, witness to justice…be just, that is next to piety.” Qur’an 5:8
Our diverse communities of faith -Jewish, Christian and Muslim- are each shaped and guided by our respective sacred texts which compel us to speak out on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our society. Today that means making comprehensive and compassionate health care reform an urgent priority so that all of our neighbors, especially the people living in poverty, children, and the aged, can be assured of the fullness of life that is central to the holy vision of a beloved and peaceable community.
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. Families and individuals must be able to rely on affordable care in times of illness or accident and preventative care to safeguard health and well-being. Those who are ill need the assurance that coverage will not be canceled by illness or employment circumstance. They should also be afforded the dignity of selecting their own caregivers.
Today we pray, each in our own custom, for discernment, boldness, clarity and leadership in each segment of our society so that we may find the resolve to achieve health reform worthy of this land. As we together pursue this vision our direction is certain-it is toward the common good. The prospect of high-quality, affordable health care for everyone is a measure of our wholeness as a nation.
We pray that our best minds and kindest hearts might be joined in this effort so that all men, women and children will have the health care they need to live the lives for which they were created. We stand ready to give our support and energies to its achievement.
Baptist signatories include:
Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell
Ecumenical Officer, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley
General Secretary, American Baptist Churches
Rev. Dr. Tyrone Pitts
General Secretary, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
Elaine Lee
Vice President at Large, Health Ministries Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
Dr. Robert Seymour
Minister Emeritus, Binkley Memorial Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Smith
President, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
Rev. Dr. Daniel Vestal
Executive Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Dr. William H. Curtis
President, Hampton University Minister’s Conference
See the complete list of signatories here.
http://baptistperspective.brucegourley.com/2009/07/health-care-debate-and-tommy-douglas.html
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Health Care Debate and Tommy Douglas, Greatest Canadian of All Time
Few Americans may realize that a Baptist minister is recognized by Canadians as the “Greatest Canadian of All Time.” Tommy Douglas, who died in 1986, is one of history’s most influential Baptists that few outside of Canada know. And here in the summer of 2009, Douglas’ legacy is extremely relevant to the biggest issue facing Americans: health care.
Tommy Douglas, you see, was the man who brought about Canada’s universal public health care system, a health care system which Canadians for several generations now have chosen to pay extra taxes to operate and maintain, and a health care system which 91% of Canadians today view as superior to America’s health care system. Furthermore, Douglas set Canada on the road to universal health care during the Great Depression, while here in America today President Obama is seeking to do the very same thing during the current Great Recession.
Douglas, a minister turned politician, first became personally aware of the moral imperative of health care when as a child he almost lost his leg to a disease because his family could not pay for treatment; only by the good graces of a doctor, who offered his medical services for free, was Douglas’ leg saved. Influenced by the Christian principles of the Social Gospel while in collge, Douglas pastored for several years before entering politics during the Depression in 1935, becoming the Premier of Saskatchewan in 1942. He remained a leading politician in Canada for many years, consistently advocating for universal health care and basic human rights. Under his leadership, the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights was enacted. And while securing public health care for all citizens, Douglas paid off government debt and created a surplus.
Although today most Americans want a public health care option, we as a nation are slow to the table in responding to the moral imperative of basic universal public health care (although a number of presidents, beginning with Teddy Roosevelt, have personally supported public health care). If we as a nation this year do manage to place human life above the greed-driven free market health insurance industry by enacting a public health care option, we have Tommy Douglas to thank, one of the greatest Baptists of the past century.
Posted by Bruce Gourley at 7:00 AM
Labels: baptist, government, greed, health care, insurance, Teddy Roosevelt, Tommy Douglas