ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 15, 2003 ELCA Assembly Adopts Social Statement on Health, Health Care 03-CWA-40-JB MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a social statement on health and health care, "Caring for Our Health: Our Shared Endeavor." The assembly adopted the statement Aug. 15 by a vote of 935-34. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There are about 2,100 people participating, including 1,031 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World." ELCA social statements are major documents of the church -- adopted by the churchwide assembly -- that address significant social issues. They are "foundations" for the church's social and ethical response to important matters, for teaching, for the church's advocacy work in legislative circles and for the church's public statements, said the Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director, ELCA Division for Church in Society (DCS), Chicago. DCS is the churchwide unit responsible for development of social statements and the church's advocacy efforts. The health care social statement is the church's eighth social statement. The ELCA has social statements on abortion; environmental concerns; the church's participation in society; death penalty; peacemaking and justice; race, ethnicity and culture; and economic life. Before the assembly adopted the social statement on health and health care, it adopted a series of minor amendments to the text. The Rev. Jonathan L. Eilert, ELCA Church Council member, Brecksville, Ohio, who chaired an ad hoc committee that considered the amendments from voting members, said the "changes strengthen the document." There was some discussion on a proposal to remove a sentence from the text that addressed malpractice costs. It said increased costs force medical professionals to leave poorer areas of the country, creating shortages of qualified workers in rural and inner-city locations. The Rev. David E. Monsen, voting member, ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod, argued that the language should be removed because rising malpractice costs are only one of the reasons why health care providers move from rural areas. For example, he cited higher reimbursements from Medicare in others as a reason. Brian Rude, church council member, Coon Valley, Wis., said the council was disappointed the social statement did not mention malpractice issues. He added that if the church is concerned about health care providers moving, they "should also be concerned that they are leaving rural areas." The assembly decided to drop the sentence about the increase in malpractice costs from the text it adopted. The introduction to the social statement states: "Health is central to our well-being, vital to relationships, and helps us live out our vocations in family, work and community. Caring for one's own health is a matter of human necessity and good stewardship. Caring for the health of others expresses both love for our neighbors and responsibility for a just society. As a personal and social responsibility, health care is a shared endeavor." The social statement addresses the church and health care crisis. "The Christian Church is called to be an active participant in fashioning a just and effective health care system," the statement said. "We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have an enduring commitment to work for and support health care for all people as a shared endeavor." The text discusses health, health care, illness and healing from a biblical and theological perspective. It offers "a vision for health care and healing as a shared endeavor;" suggests personal responsibilities; the roles of the church's ministry, congregations and social ministry organizations; advocacy; and how to develop a better system of health care services. It addresses public health services, whole patient care, caregiver support, research and technology development, and professional education. The statement advocates for equitable access to health care for all, and suggests ethical guidance for individuals and families. "The gospel offers the world the hope of abundant and everlasting life, that liberates us from idolatry of health and fear of death," concludes the social statement. At a news conference hosted by the ELCA News Service, the Rev. Herbert E. Anderson, Seattle, chair of the task force that developed the social statement, said the statement demonstrates that health care is a "common endeavor" and is not the responsibility of one group alone. The statement emphasizes "care for the neighbor," he said. "[Our] neighbor needs care, and [helping the neighbor] is in Scripture," Anderson said. The statement can also be a contribution from the ELCA to the church's full communion partner churches, he added. The ELCA shares a full communion relationship with the Episcopal Church, Moravian Church, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ. Calling the adoption of the social statement "satisfying," Larson said she and others involved in the statement's development process "have a sense we have done something special here." "A social statement doesn't come out of nowhere," she said. "It is a response to a social responsibility: the health care crisis." -- -- -- Information about the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at www.elca.org/assembly/03 on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news