Title: Lutherans Sponsor Online Conference on Faith, Health
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 30, 2001

LUTHERANS SPONSOR ONLINE CONFERENCE ON FAITH, HEALTH
01-270-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Seven "storytellers," five commentators and 360
registered guests from around the world got together on the Web at
http://www.faithandlifeforum.org/ for four weeks of conversation about
health, health care, health care professions and the Christian faith.
"For the Love of Life: Living Faithfully for Good Health" was sponsored
Sept. 10-Oct. 7 by the Faith and Life Forum -- an independent nonprofit
corporation organized by lay members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA).
     "As Christians we live in a world of incredible scientific and
medical advances.  Yet, there are many people who experience pain,
disillusionment, frustrations, dilemmas, shortfalls and problems even as
they are healed through, serve in or simply engage with our country's
'health care system,'" said the online conference thesis.
     The conference targeted several questions: "How do we as people of
faith view our vocations of self, family, workplace and community as
they pertain to health and this health care system?  What is our
responsibility for our own health and the health of the public?  What is
our understanding of our vocation as a health care worker or as a
patient?"
     The seven storytellers were anonymous.  "Carole" was caring for
her children and her parents, "Claire" was a mother and doctor in family
practice, "Cornelia" was a doctoral candidate studying public health,
"Diana" was a pathologist working in cancer and blood disease research
and clinical laboratories, "John" was the retired director of a local
YMCA, "Karen" was an organ recipient living off disability payments, and
"Lisa" is a young nurse working in the psychiatric unit of a local
hospital.
     After each told her or his story, each of the five commentators
shared his or her opinion of what was said.  The five commentators were
Dr. Kenneth Bakken, president, Health Vision International, Seattle;
Helen Doerpinghaus, associate professor of insurance, Moore School of
Business, University of South Carolina, Columbia; the Rev. Daryl "Tony"
S. Everett, professor of pastoral care, Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary, Columbia; Dr. Norma J. Hirsch, physician, health care
consultant and end-of-life counselor, Des Moines, Iowa; and Wisconsin
State Representative Gregg Underheim (R-54th District), Oshkosh.
     The stories and commentaries were designed to spur conversation
among the 360 participants.  Registration information showed the group
represented a variety of occupations -- from attorneys to journalists --
and a variety of faith perspectives, including Jewish participants.
     Everett served as the conference theologian-in-residence.  He
opened each day's conversation with a Bible study to lead the discussion
in a theological direction.  "How do you experience comfort from others?
From Christ? How do you share this comfort with others?"
     Participants were encouraged to apply the stories and lessons to
their own experiences with health, vocation and faith.  They were given
a "discussion board" where e-mail messages could be posted at any time,
and there were live online chats each Wednesday evening during the
conference.
     Registrants were also given a different poll question each day.
For example, 60 people answered the question: "Should all Americans be
required to carry health insurance?"  Ten percent strongly agreed; 26.7
percent agreed; 28.3 percent were not sure; 26.7 percent disagreed; and
8.3 percent strongly disagreed.
     When the idea of the online conference was taking shape, "the
topic of our nation's 'health care system' was high on the agenda,"
wrote a member of the board of the Faith and Life Forum, the Rev. John
P. Trump, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Columbia, S.C., in the
conference's closing statement.  "Little did we know that on September
11 our world as we knew it would change."
     "Our interviews, commentators, and thoughts posted on the bulletin
boards clearly indicate that allocation of resources in our world is a
major factor in health care for all people, and that simply throwing
money at the problem of inadequate health care for all will not solve
anything," wrote Trump.
     "Equally clear has been the idea that as people of faith we are
responsible to care for ourselves and others.  We are called to look for
ways to keep ourselves as healthy as we can.  Most importantly, we are
called to see 'health' as something that involves both body and soul,"
he said.
     "With God's help we have walked in another person's shoes, be they
a nurse, a doctor, a patient, a caregiver or whomever.  We have listened
and learned," said Trump.  "We hope and pray that discussions begun here
might continue in all the places where your faith journeys continue," he
said.
     "For the Love of Life" was Faith and Life Forum's second virtual
conference.  In February 2000 "For the Love of Money" examined the ELCA
social statement on economic life.
     "For the Love of Life" was underwritten in part by a grant from
the Wheat Ridge Ministries based in Itasca, Ill.  Wheat Ridge is an
independent Lutheran charitable organization that provides support for
new church-related health and hope ministries.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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