Dear Friends:

     In response to recent inquiries, I want to offer some clarification regarding the position of the United Methodist Church and health care.   Of course, the health care issue has been a major topic of conversation for the past several years.   The primaries of both parties continued this conversation in earnest in 2007.   The election of 2008 and the legislative process of 2009—2010 have intensified the debate and the rhetoric.   The issue remains before us and will continue to have a major place in our political discourse.   It should.

     In September of 2009, my article in The Witness expressed my thoughts regarding the health care debate and suggested a United Methodist perspective.   I refer you to it. Health care should be on United Methodists’ agenda

     Christians and United Methodists will always be concerned about health care.   We shall be concerned about availability, affordability, and quality.   The Biblical witness requires no less.   The conversation occurs regarding the specifics in addressing these concerns.

     United Methodists are engaged in the debate.   United Methodists will probably always disagree on the particular path to implementation.   We should all agree on the goals.

     House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an inaccurate comment in her closing speech prior to the vote on March 21 when she implied that the United Methodist Church “endorsed” the bill then before the House of Representatives.   Only the General Conference speaks for the whole Church.   Of course, no piece of legislation had been before the General Conference.   It has not met since May 2008.   The Conference did strongly endorse health care reform (Par. 162.V and Resolution 3201, Discipline 2008).

     The General Board of Church and Society was given the task of advocating for such reform.   It has been engaged fully in the conversation.   As an agency of the Church, it seeks to promote our principles and values.

     Health care reform has been on the agenda for both political parties for a number of years.   It’s been on our agenda, too.   May it always be there.   As we move forward, I pray that our discourse will be reasonable, thoughtful, Christ-like, and faithful.   May we be respectful of those with whom we disagree.   May we not allow our disagreements to overshadow our goals.   May we not allow a mistaken inference to deter us from seeking together the abundant life God wills for us all.