Who Speaks for the United Methodist Church?

On March 23, 2010 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi gave public thanks to a number of groups for their support of health care reform legislation. Two of the groups were the Catholic Health Association and “The United Methodist Church.” Since then district superintendents and I have received several calls and emails regarding her statement.

Here is some information which may be helpful.

• Only the General Conference, which meets once every four years, can speak for the whole United Methodist Church. The General Conference met in 2008 and will meet again in 2012.

• For more than 30 years the general conference has given strong support to enabling improved access to health care for all people. It has not endorsed one specific piece of legislation over another.
  

At the end of this message you may read the statement from Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, as found on pp. 117-118 of the 2008 United Methodist Book of Discipline.

• The General Board of Church and Society is the agency that has the authority to advocate public policy consistent with the values and statements adopted by the general conference and found in the Book of Discipline. It is my understanding that Speaker Pelosi’s statement actually referenced advocacy from the General Board of Church and Society on behalf of health care.

• Over the years, the United Methodist Church, acting through the General Board of Church and Society and its predecessor bodies, has been involved in a number of controversial issues. These include child labor legislation, anti-slavery legislation, temperance legislation, civil rights legislation, disability legislation, anti-gambling legislation, and anti-pornography legislation. Understandably, its advocacy has rarely enjoyed the unanimous support of United Methodists.
  

Other concerns have been raised about the rhetoric of some persons who have opposed the health care bill particularly in regard to language that is out of character with Christian values. Whatever position United Methodists hold I believe we can agree there is no place in our conversation for racial or gender epithets or abusive language.

Paul Brown, a graduate student at Duke, wrote on the UMC Facebook site: “Sisters and brothers, our unity is grounded in Jesus Christ — not in the details of health care reform. As a church that includes both Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush as members, we are free to disagree on various social issues, but we remain united in one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”

I hope this is helpful to you in conversation.

Grace and Peace,

Janice Riggle Huie

The following statement comes from Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, as found on pp. 117-118 of the 2008 United Methodist Book of Discipline.

Health is a condition of physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. John 10:10b says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Stewardship of health is the responsibility of each person to whom health has been entrusted. Creating the personal, environmental, and social conditions in which health can thrive is a joint responsibility — public and private. We encourage individuals to pursue a healthy lifestyle and affirm the importance of preventive health care, health education, environmental and occupational safety, good nutrition, and secure housing in achieving health. Health care is a basic human right.

Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease, and restore health after injury or illness is a responsibility each person owes others and government owes to all, a responsibility government ignores at its peril. In Ezekiel 34:4a, God points out the failures of the leadership of Israel to care for the weak: “You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured.” As a result all suffer. Like police and fire protection, health care is best funded through the government’s ability to tax each person equitably and directly fund the provider entities. Countries facing a public health crisis such as HIV/AIDS must have access to generic medicines and to patented medicines. We affirm the right of men and women to have access to comprehensive reproductive health/family planning information and services that will serve as a means to prevent unplanned pregnancies, reduce abortions, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. The right to health care includes care for persons with brain diseases, neurological conditions, or physical disabilities, who must be afforded the same access to health care as all other persons in our communities. It is unjust to construct or perpetuate barriers to physical or mental wholeness or full participation in community.

We believe it is a government responsibility to provide all citizens with health care.