NCC Health Task Force endorses policy reform effort

New York, November 27, 2007 – The newly formed Health Task Force of the National Council of Churches has joined with AARP and others to urge all Americans to seek policies that will better address the unmet needs of the poor and those who lack adequate health care coverage.

The NCC recently completed a study in which over 6000 congregations reported their own health ministries with the majority of the programs reported serving community members as well as congregants. 

The "Divided We Fail" effort, which struck a positive chord in NCC member churches, encouraged a renewed national dialogue about the need for policies and programs that better address those at the margins of our society due to poverty, poor health and inadequate health care. 

Pastors and church leaders around the country were assisted in providing a theological and biblical foundation for the effort by a popular series of sermon seeds.

More than 500 top ranking church leaders received the sermon seeds during the recent General Assembly of the NCC and Church World Service in Woodbridge, N.J. (See box, above.)

Copies of the sermon seeds were also provided to the press and other observers for their use, and the principles of the campaign were defined to the meeting delegates by the NCC's President Elect, the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches.

The principles of the campaign echo the long term commitments of the National Council of Churches and more centrally the Gospel's injunction to care for the "least of these" among us. 

The Health Task Force commends the materials related to the "Divided We Fail" campaign for study in congregations and for church leaders to consider in their preaching and teaching ministries.    
 

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Americans should have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their futures will be financially secure. Yet, millions of Americans worry about their health and long-term financial security. For many, the American dream is eroding along with this security. We can't let this happen.

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