Tell the U.S. Congress: "Don't Take a Recess Until You Provide Health Care For All!"

To U.S.-Based Activists
from Metropolitan Community Churches
A C T I O N A L E R T

Tell the U.S. Congress:
"Don't Take a Recess
Until You Provide Health Care For All!"
"The harvest is past,
the summer is ended,
and we are not saved...
Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my
poor people not been restored?
-- Jeremiah 8:20 & 22

July 30, 2009

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is poised to take a month-long recess without passing comprehensive health care reform.

For the sake of the health and well-being of all God's people, we need quality affordable health care for all people now.

As people of faith called to heed the command to love our neighbors, we must raise our voices to send a message to Congress to provide quality, affordable health care to those among us who suffer within our broken health care system due to the lack of health insurance or lack of access to health care services.

For the first time since 1994, the Congress is on the verge of passing comprehensive health care reform that would provide coverage and access to all Americans regardless of health, age, income, or gender. Failure to pass reform this year could result in many more years of delay in securing universal access to quality affordable health care for all.

What would comprehensive health care reform mean?
- Health coverage for all.
- Elimination of co-pays and deductibles for preventive care.
- End to premium rate-increases and coverage denials for pre-existing conditions.
- Increased access to preventive care and wellness services.

Join other people of faith from across the U.S. in urging the House of Representatives to make quality affordable health care available to everyone as means to bring wholeness and restoration to millions of American citizens, and by extension, to millions of families and communities in need.


HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP!

FIRST:
If you already know your Member of Congress, simply call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121 to reach your Representative.

OR

Go to www.congress.org and enter your ZIP code to locate your Member of Congress. Select "contact" to find out your Member's office address and telephone number.

SECOND:
Call your member and use the sample script below to advocate for health reform:

Sample Script for call:
"My name is ________ and I am calling from _________. I would like to urge Representative ________ to remain at work to support comprehensive health care reform before he/she returns home for recess. As a constituent and a person of faith, I am concerned that people without health insurance access and coverage will continue to suffer with poor health and reduced quality of care. I urge you to support efforts to provide quality affordable health care for all regardless of health, age, income, or gender."

THIRD:
Pray for our elected officials, business and community leaders, and all those in positions of authority, that they will be blessed with hearts of service and will lead with mercy, justice, and integrity.
# E N D #


_________________________________
Metropolitan Community Churches
Web: www.mccchurch.org
E-mail: info@mccchurch.net

MCC Responds To Episcopal Church's Lifting of Gay Ordination Ban

PUBLIC STATEMENT
from Metropolitan Community Churches

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2009

Denomination of Metropolitan Community Churches
Affirms Lifting of Episcopal Moratorium on Ordination
of Gay Clergy, Election of Gay Bishops

The international movement of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) today affirmed its support of its sister denomination in Christ, the Episcopal Church in America, in lifting the de facto moratorium on the ordination of lesbian and gay clergy candidates and the election of openly lesbian and gay bishops.

Metropolitan Community Churches, the world's largest and oldest Christian denomination with a primary, affirming ministry to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people, has enjoyed a long and mutual relationship with the Episcopal Church in America. In MCC's founding years when MCC congregations were often turned away by other communities of faith, it was often local Episcopal churches that provided a place for MCC members to gather for worship and community.

Today, three MCC leaders -- Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, moderator; Mr. Stan Kimer, chair of MCC's Ecumenical & Inter-religious Team; and Rev. Pat Bumgardner, chair of MCC's Global Justice Team, addressed Tuesday's significant vote by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to open "any ordained ministry" to lesbians and gays.

Their statements and remarks follow:


Remarks by Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
www.MCCchurch.org

"This is a courageous and timely vote from the Episcopal Church in America. It was clear that the moratorium on the ordination of gay clergy and the election of gay bishops made no one happy. This is an authentic move by this denomination at this time in history.

"Because of their global ties in the Anglican Communion, this will have a long term and global impact: While the Episcopal Church in America may well experience a short-term backlash from some quarters, this action will serve the Church's long-term health as it becomes a fully welcoming place for all God's children. The Episcopal Church has already paid a great price for standing up to religiously-based homophobia and sexism, and now has positioned itself to be a much needed global leader in the spiritual value of inclusion, in which Jesus and justice are inextricably connected.

"We rejoice, especially, with our brother The Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, whose witness and faithfulness have moved the Episcopal Church to this point."


Remarks by Stan Kimer, Chair
Ecumenical & Inter-religious Team
Metropolitan Community Churches

"MCC clergy and lay people have worked with our Episcopal comrades in numerous ecumenical settings over the past 40 years. As ecumenical and faith partners, we have shared a mutual commitment to welcoming and affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians. I am very pleased by the action of the Episcopal Church in America to lift the de facto moratorium on the service of gay people and to now affirm full inclusivity of all God's children in 'any ordained ministry' within the Episcopal Church in America."


Remarks by Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Chair
Global Justice Team
Metropolitan Community Churches

"Today, I am adding my voice to those who applaud the courage and integrity demonstrated in the Episcopal Church in America's conference vote allowing the consideration of lesbian and gay candidates for the ordained ministry. This vote represents the lifting of what, in effect, was a moratorium on ordinations, especially to the episcopate. I especially want to recognize the many, including our brother, The Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, who worked long and hard for this day.

"While grateful for this step forward, I remain mindful of all the places in the world where communities of faith, including the wider Anglican Communion, use their presence, power and prestige to support the continued stigmatization and marginalization of God's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children. The denomination of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) is part of a coalition of progressive churches currently speaking against the violence suffered by LGBT people in Uganda -- violence that some religious voices have condoned.

"I pray in thanksgiving, yes, for this step forward, and for the day when the quest for our full inclusion in the human community, along with the safety and protection such inclusion affords, will engender neither contention nor debate."


# E N D #

________________________________

For Additional Information, Contact:
Jim Birkitt, Communications Director
Metropolitan Community Churches
P.O. Box 691728
Los Angeles, CA 90069
Tel. (310) 625-4177
Email: info@MCCchurch.net

This statement prepared by the MCC Moderator's Office, in conjunction with the Ecumenical & Inter-religious Team of Metropolitan Community Churches, Stan Kimer, chair; the Global Justice Team of Metropolitan Community Churches, Rev. Pat Bumgardner, chair; and the MCC Communications Department, James Birkitt, communications director.