The United Methodist Church takes healthcare seriously. The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church state that “Healthcare is a basic human right” (Social Principles, ¶162.V). In other words, we believe that every person deserves health care, regardless of our religion, social standing, or ability to pay. We in the United Methodist church are not alone in that declaration. Christians across varying denominations share this concern for our neighbors. And yet, walking this faithful path is difficult in our American society.
On September 20 and 27 during the Sunday school hour, we will engage in conversation around healthcare as part of the Encounter Legacy Series at Calvary. This series honors the legacy of the former Encounter Sunday School class by combining curiosity and faith to discuss pressing contemporary issues. In this series, we will examine the healing power of Jesus and the United Methodist Church’s commitments to healthcare. We will be challenged by the ways in which our Christian tradition is in conflict with how the modern American healthcare system delivers care for our neighbors, leaving many Americans, in the words of Dr. Brad Spellberg, “broken, bankrupt, and dying.”
Many physicians and other healthcare workers, including myself, carry the burden of moral injury, knowing the system we work in is failing our patients while we feel powerless to create meaningful change. The American healthcare system limits our ability to heal. We witness too many patients fall through the systemic cracks. To bear witness to these failures from patients’ perspectives, we welcome the Tennessee Justice Center to share stories and show us that when the American healthcare system fails some of us, it fails all of us. And yet, when we come together, we can improve healthcare conditions for our neighbors. The Tennessee Justice Center will offer us a path toward action.
We invite you to join us with open hearts and open minds for this engaging discussion.
-Amy Gordon Bono, MD, MPH
The Seminar will be available on Zoom for those who are not able to join in person – https://calvaryumc.com/healthcare-zoom
Recordings
