Faith Inspired LAMPa.PHAN.PCC Sign-on

Briefly stated, it says that as people of faith, we envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness, and human dignity—a vision that embraces a system of health care that is inclusive... accessible... affordable... and accountable.

ELCA Congregational Toolkits

The ELCA Washington Office has developed a "Health Care Sunday" and a "Health Care Cafés"
toolkit to aid congregations in their discussion of federal health care reform.

Click here to download

the Washington Office's informational flyer on health care reform.

Worship Resource: Litany

Adapt this litany from a health care reform vigil held during Churchwide Assembly.

This Summer, LAMPa is partnering with the PA Health Access Network (PHAN) and the PA Council of Churches Ministry of Public Advocacy to help educate our congregation members that NOW is the time to raise their important voice in the national debate around Health Care Reform.

Health Care is not just an issue. . .

It’s a FAITH issue.

As people of faith we believe that Health Care should be Affordable, Accessible, Accountable, and Inclusive of all. Each month we will provide you with a newsletter article and bulletin insert that will

1) explore one of these four principles in more detail and 2) urge members to write to Senators Casey and Specter in support of Comprehensive Reform based on these four principles.

For your convenience, a link to a downloadable sample letter is provided on the right. With just a few minutes and the cost of two stamps (still less than $1!) you can make a difference in the lives of nearly 45 million Americans without health insurance.

Also, on the left you will find links to this month’s bulletin insert and newsletter article. The first article serves as an introduction to our multi-month effort. The text is also copied below.

A FAITH-INSPIRED VISION OF HEALTH CARE—AN OVERVIEW

In June 2008 a diverse gathering of faith leaders met to define the religious community's distinct vision for and role in national and state conversations about health care reform. They established that the faith community’s primary role is to transform the conversation from an economic debate to a moral dialogue. They also developed A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care, which asserts that as people of faith, we envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness, and human dignity, through a health care system that is:

Inclusive—Health care is a shared responsibility grounded in our common humanity;

Accessible—Health care must contribute to the common good by being affordable for individuals, families and society as a whole;

Affordable—All persons should have access to health services that provide necessary care and contribute to wellness; and

Accountable—Our system must offer a quality, equitable and sustainable means of keeping us healthy as individuals and communities.

The effort has shifted to calling for religious bodies, organizations and individuals to communicate our faith-inspired vision to our representatives in Congress as they prepare to address health care. Because Congress has committed itself to enacting health reform this year–perhaps as early as July–it is especially important that people of faith not stand on the sidelines any longer. Now is the time to speak.

Over the next four months, this newsletter will publish a series of articles that explains the implications of the four principles identified above. In the meantime, we can be in communication with our senators–Arlen Specter and Robert Casey–telling them of our experiences with the health care system and urging them to enact reform that is inclusive, accessible, affordable, and accountable. To endorse the faith vision described above and to find an outline for letters to both senators, go to www.pachurchesadvocacy.org and click on “Health Care” under the “Issues” link.

to your State Senator in support of House Bill 1