Peace with Justice Sunday funds aid in health care advocacy

Submitted by Laurie Day
Assistant Director of Mission & Ministry

Continuing last week's article about supporting Peace with Justice Sunday on May 22, funds given during that Special Sunday offering will enable United Methodists to have a strong advocacy voice on health care.

"Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend." Luke 10, NRSV

The nature of health care has changed substantially since biblical times, but the importance of health care has remained the same. Consistent with the Social Principles and The Book of Resolutions, United Methodists advocate for health care as a human right that must be made available to all.

Locally, Kevin Mabry, a lay person from First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, uses his faith and the Social Principles to advocate for everyone to have the right to health care in Colorado. Kevin is involved in ColoradoCare, an initiative to provide quality health care for every citizen in the state of Colorado. In doing this, Kevin believes in health care justice for everyone, including the disenfranchised and the least of these.

From our earliest days United Methodists have believed that providing health care to others is an important duty of Christians. John Wesley found ways to offer medical services at no cost to the poor in London. The first Methodist Social Creed (adopted in 1908) urged working conditions to safeguard the health of workers and community.

Supporting Peace with Justice Sunday on May 22 enables United Methodists to speak up for justice issues and empower communities to advocate based on United Methodist Social Principles. Thank you for your generosity – even a dollar helps!