Posted on 03/22/2010 6:33:24 PM PDT by iceskater
The landmark vote on health care by the House of Representatives March 21 affirms The United Methodist Church’s Social Principles that declares health care is a “basic human right,” the top executive of the denomination’s social action agency said.
"For decades, the General Board of Church and Society has worked alongside thousands of United Methodists to achieve health care for all in the U.S.," said Jim Winkler, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. "This vote brings us closer to that reality."
The majority of United Methodist lawmakers in the House voted against the plan. However, in her closing remarks before the legislation was approved, Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to The United Methodist Church as one of many organizations “sending a clear message to members of Congress: Say yes to health care reform.” More specifically, the Board of Church and Society is included on Pelosi’s Web site listing organizations supporting reform.
While it has historically supported access to health care for all, the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly did not act on the specific legislation. General Conference, held every four years, last met in 2008.
Votes by United Methodists in House of Representatives
YES:
Vic Snyder (D), Ark. Doris Matsui (D), Cali. Laura Richardson (D), Cali. Allen Boyd (D), Fla. Suzanne Kosmas (D), Fla. Baron Hill (D), Ind. David Loebsack (D), Iowa Dutch Ruppersberger (D), Md. Mark Schauer (D), Mich. Bennie Thompson (D), Miss. Russ Carnahan (D), Mo. Emanuel Cleaver II (D), Mo. Betty Sutton (D), Ohio Bart Gordon (D), Tenn. Lloyd Doggett (D), Texas Gene Green (D), Texas Solomon Ortiz (D), Texas Rick Larsen (D), Wash.
NO:
Marion Berry (D), Ark. Mike Ross (D), Ark. Mike Coffman (R), Colo. Jeff Miller (R), Fla. Bill Posey (R), Fla. Bill Young (R), Fla. Steve Buyer (R), Ind. Lynn Jenkins (R), Kan. Jerry Moran (R), Kan. Ed Whitfield (R), Ky. Mike Rogers (R), Mich. John Kline (R), Minn. Lee Terry (R), Neb. Steven LaTourette (R), Ohio Dan Boren (D), Okla. Tom Cole (R), Okla. Phil Roe (R), Tenn. Joe Barton (R), Texas John Culberson (R), Texas Chet Edwards (D), Texas Kay Granger (R), Texas Ralph Hall (R), Texas Sam Johnson (R), Texas Pete Olson (R), Texas Pete Sessions (R), Texas Rick Boucher (D), Virginia Differing opinions United Methodists, like most Americans, have taken different positions on the basic legislation approved by the House. Opponents of the legislation have cited its cost, its expansion of federal power and concerns that it would reverse past policy by allowing federal funding of abortions.
The United Methodist Church is third among religious groups in the total number of members of the 111th Congress. Among its 44 members in the House, 26 voted no; 18 voted yes.
“There are parts of this bill that are good, including much-needed health insurance reforms and making health insurance affordable for the uninsured,” said Rep. Mike Ross, a United Methodist from Arizona who opposed the legislation. “On the other hand, many parts of this bill cause me great concern, like telling people they must buy health insurance or be fined, cutting Medicare by more than a half-trillion dollars, increasing taxes and forcing businesses to provide health insurance to their employees.”
Rep. Marion Berry, a United Methodist from Arkansas, said health care reform “must be deficit-neutral and must be fully paid for by squeezing out more savings from the pharmaceutical manufacturers and private insurance industry instead of cramming down hospitals and other providers and taxing Americans.”
United Methodist Congresswoman Laura Richardson of California voted for the legislation.
“While this legislation does not include an comprehensive full public option as the House of Representatives preferred, it is a giant step forward in beginning the reform of our nation’s current neglectful health care system,” she said.
Palmer rejoices Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the Council of Bishops, said he “rejoiced” at the passage of the bill because it aligns with the values of The United Methodist Church.
Though the denomination’s chief legislative body, the General Conference, has taken no stand, it has been a strong advocate for universal health care.
The United Methodist Church in its law book states: “We believe it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care.”
The 2008 United Methodist Book of Resolutions adds: “In the United States today, however, fulfillment of this duty is thwarted by simultaneous crises of access, quality, and cost. The result of these crises is injustice to the most vulnerable, increased risk to health care consumers, and waste of scarce public and private resources.”
Resolution 3201 in the United Methodist Book of Resolutions charges the United Methodist Board of Church and Society with primary responsibility for advocating health care for all in the United States Congress. The resolution was approved by the 2008 General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body.
Paul Brown, a Duke graduate student, called for unity amid disagreement.
“Sisters and brothers, our unity is grounded in Jesus Christ—not in the details of health care reform,” he wrote on the denomination’s Facebook site. “As a church that includes both Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush as members, we are free to disagree on various social issues, but we remain united in one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org
xzins, I suspect you are going to catch some heat for this.
The UMC is no longer the church I grew up in. It has really turned to the dark side. I’m not convinced that the ‘leadership’ of the UMC actually believe in the risen Lord.
I left the UMC years ago. I will be sending this to my parents.
Isn’t the UMC the same as ELCA and the Episcopalians (and PCUSA for the most part)? Part of the old mainstream denominations that have gone apostate? Surprised to the Methodists go to. They were part of the great awakening and really had their day.
It breaks my heart. The UMC is also supporting amnesty for illegal aliens.
As if there were no baptists, catholics, presbyterians, who voted for this.
I believe that life is a critical right that shouldn't be violated. I do not believe that health care is a critical right, but is instead a benefit that a government might or might not decide to implement without violating any moral law one way or the other.
If I were to explain how the United Methodist Church actually works, folks would understand how it is that a suggestion based on our social principles can be denied by 26 UM congresscritters and affirmed by only 18.
not if they dont take care of themselves first......health
care is when a human being takes the initiative to help themselves to make their lives healthy...by excercising, eating the right foods, and not taking drugs, or being obese just to see how fat they can get. I understand valid medical problems, That is health care to begin with....but really is this about soscialized medicine. or is it about Obama?
I have never, ever regretted leaving the methodist church 25 years ago. It has only continued it slimy slide into apostasy. My parents are too old and feeble to see what their church has become.
Reading this reinforces my belief that my decision to leave the Methodist Church 30 years ago was the right one.
(I still miss the old time hymns, tho.)
IMO it has been an intentional plan to move the country to the far left. They have succeeded.
I recall that in the 60’s and before, the Episcopal Church was often referred to as the Republican Party at prayer. Look at the church now!
IMO it has been an intentional plan to move the country to the far left. They have succeeded.
I recall that in the 60’s and before, the Episcopal Church was often referred to as the Republican Party at prayer. Look at the church now!
The UMC supports “a woman right to choose”, gun control, socialized heath,housing and food and are very close to accepting homosexuality. The hiearchy is very liberal and many stupid conservative people attend this church. Why I do not know??
Stupid is too strong a word. I change it to misguided. I have a very hard time with this type church. They are in small towns and the people who go there have NO idea what their hiearchy supports. I watched a NOW president get introduced with loving embrace by a UMC preacher on c-span while she was out shilling her pro-abortion book and that did it for me.
So, I’m struggling or was struggling with continuing to belong to the UMC. When does continuing to support the church with my prayers, my presence, my gifts and my service become tacit approval of the positions of the General Conference?
I’m not trying to be obnoxious...I really think the UMC has reached that point with me. If I continue to support the chuch in any capacity, I’m just providing my approval of their positions.
We are all Amish now...
Below are some democrats in Congress and their denominations. We can assume that the vote yesterday was widely represented by religious denomination. If you can’t be methodist, then you can’t be any of those other denoms either.
Or
You can differentiate between your particular church that you attend and the denomination with which that church is affiliated.
The methodists really are no different in that regard than anyone else. There is no head of the methodist church. Each bishops area is independent for all practical purposes, and each local church is pretty much left to its own devices.
Alcee Hastings, D African Methodist Episcopal (AME) James Clyburn, D African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Barbara Lee, D Baptist Juanita Millender-McDonald, D Baptist Corrine Brown, D Baptist Kendrick Meek, D Baptist Sanford Bishop, D Baptist John Lewis, D Baptist John Barrow, D Baptist David Scott, D Baptist Jesse Jackson, Jr., D Baptist Danny Davis, D Baptist Julia Carson, D Baptist William Jefferson, D Baptist Albert Wynn, D Baptist Steny Hoyer, D Baptist
Elijah Cummings, D Baptist Carolyn Kilpatrick, D Baptist
John Conyers, D Baptist Donald Payne, D Baptist Gregory Meeks, D Baptist Edolphus Towns, D Baptist Major Owens, D Baptist .K. Butterfield, D Baptist David Price, D Baptist
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D Baptist Chaka Fattah, D Baptist
Lincoln Davis, D Baptist Harold E. Ford, Jr., D Baptist
Eddie Bernice Johnson, D Baptist Alan Mollohan, D Baptist
Gwen Moore, D Baptist Bobby Rush, D Baptist Al Green, D Baptist Ed Pastor, D Catholic Raul Grijalva, D Catholic
Mike Thompson, D Catholic George Miller, D Catholic Nancy Pelosi, D Catholic Ellen Tauscher, D Catholic Richard Pombo, D Catholic Anna Eshoo, D Catholic Dennis Cardoza, D Catholic Jim Costa, D Catholic Xavier Becerra, D Catholic
Hilda Solis, D Catholic Diane Watson, D Catholic Lucille Roybal-Allard, D Catholic Grace Napolitano, D Catholic
Linda Sanchez, D Catholic Joe Baca, D Catholic Loretta Sanchez, D Catholic John Salazar, D Catholic John Larson, D Catholic Rose DeLauro, D Catholic Jim Marshall, D Catholic
Cynthia McKinney, D Catholic Dan Lipinski, D Catholic
Luis Gutierrez, D Catholic Henry Hyde, R Catholic Jerry Costello, D Catholic Lane Evans, D Catholic eter Visclosky, D Catholic c Charlie Melancon, D Catholic Mike Michaud, D Catholic Richard Neal, D Catholic James McGovern, D Catholic Martin Meehan, D Catholic Edward Markey, D Catholic Michael Capuano, D Catholic Stephen Lynch, D Catholic Bill Delahunt, D Catholic Bart Stupak, D Catholic
Dale Kildee, D Catholic John Dingell, D Catholic Betty McCollum, D Catholic James Oberstar, D Catholic Gene Taylor, D Catholic William Clay, Jr., D Catholic Frank Pallone, D Catholic Bill Pascrell, D Catholic
Robert Menendez, D Catholic Timothy Bishop, D Catholic
Carolyn McCarthy, D Catholic Joseph Crowley, D Catholic
Nydia Velazquez, D Catholic Vito Fossella, R Catholic
Charles Rangel, D Catholic Jose Serrano, D Catholic Michael McNulty, D Catholic Maurice Hinchey, D Catholic Brian Higgins, D Catholic Marcy Kaptur, D Catholic Dennis ucinich, D Catholic, Vegan Timothy Ryan, D Catholic Peter DeFazio, D Catholic Robert Brady, D Catholic Paul Kanjorski, D Catholic John Murtha, D Catholic Michael Doyle, D Catholic Tim Holden, D Catholic Patrick Kennedy, D Catholic Jim Langevin, D Catholic Ruben Hinojosa, D Catholic Silvestre Reyes, D Catholic Charles Gonzalez, D Catholic Henry Cuellar, D Catholic James Moran, D Catholic
David Obey, D Catholic Ike Skelton, D Christian Church Disciples of Christ) John Tanner, D Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Melissa Bean, D Eastern Orthodox Sam Farr, D Episcopalian Jim Davis, D Episcopalian Chris Van Hollen, D Episcopalian Robert Andrews, D Episcopalian Louise Slaughter, D Episcopalian Brad Miller, D piscopalian
Jim Cooper, D Episcopalian Robert C. Scott, D Episcopalian
Jim McDermott, D Episcopalian om Lantos, D Jewish Brad Sherman, D Jewish Howard Berman, D Jewish Adam Schiff, D Jewish Henry Waxman, D Jewish Jane Harman, D Jewish
Bob Filner, D Jewish Susan Davis, D Jewish Robert Wexler, D Jewish Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D Jewish Rahm Emanuel, D Jewish anice Schakowsky, D Jewish Benjamin Cardin, D Jewish
Barney Frank, D Jewish Sander Levin, D Jewish Shelley Berkley, D Jewish Steven Rothman, D Jewish Steven Israel, D Jewish Gary Ackerman, D Jewish Jerrold Nadler, D Jewish
Anthony Weiner, D Jewish Eliot Engel, D Jewish Nita Lowey, D Jewish Allyson Schwartz, D Jewish Bernard Sanders, Ind. Jewish Mike Simpson, R Latter-day SaintTom Udall, D Latter-day Saint Jim Matheson, D Latter-day Saint Mark Udall, D Latter-day Saint Leonard Boswell, D Community of Christ (RLDS) Artur Davis, D Lutheran Lois Capps, D Lutheran
Martin Olav Sabo, D Lutheran Collin Peterson, D Lutheran
Sherrod Brown, D Lutheran Darlene Hooley, D Lutheran Stephanie Herseth, D Lutheran Norm Dicks, D Lutheran Ron Kind, D Lutheran Zoe Lofgren, D Lutheran Robert Cramer, D Methodist arion Berry, D Methodist Mike Ross, D Methodist
Robert T.Matsui, D Methodist Jeff Miller, R Methodist Allen Boyd, D Methodist C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D Methodist
Bennie Thompson, D Methodist Russ Carnahan, D Methodist
Emanuel Cleaver II, D Methodist Ted Strickland, D Methodist
David Hobson, R Methodist Dan Boren, D Methodist Bart Gordon, D Methodist Chet Edwards, D Methodist Lloyd Doggett, D Methodist Solomon Ortiz, D Methodist Gene Green, D Methodist Rick Boucher, D Methodist Rick Larsen, D Methodist Donna M. Christian-Christensen (V.I.) Moravian ic Snyder, D Presbyterian Lynn Woolsey, D Presbyterian Diana DeGette, D Presbyterian A.B. Chandler, D Presbyterian
Carolyn Maloney, D Presbyterian Bob Etheridge, D esbyterian
Mike McIntyre, D Presbyterian Melvin Watt, D Presbyterian
Earl Pomeroy, D Presbyterian David Wu, D Presbyterian
Charlie Dent, R Presbyterian John Spratt, D Presbyterian
Jimmy Duncan, R Presbyterian Nick Rahall, D Presbyterian
Rush Holt, D Quaker Sheila Jackson Lee, D Seventh-day Adventist Pete Stark, D Unitarian Michael Honda, “Protestant” Ed Case, D “Protestant” Dennis Moore, D “Protestant” Thomas Allen, D “Protestant” Jay Inslee, D “Protestant” rian Baird, D “Protestant” Neil Abercrombie, D Protestant (raised) Maxine Waters, D “Christian”
Adam Smith, D “Christian” Tammy Baldwin, D GLBT (relig. affil. unspecified) John Olver, D unspecified John Tierney, D unspecified Earl Blumenauer, D unspecified
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