The United Methodist Church and Health Care Reform
You may have or may be receiving questions about the United Methodist position on the health-care coverage plan passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned in a speech that the United Methodist Church had advocated for health care reform.You may find answers to many questions about the United Methodist Church’s relationship to this particular plan at
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=8104411
Find information on the United Methodist stance on health-care reform in general at
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspxc=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=4746363&ct=8104405¬oc=1
Clarifying information
General Conference, the only body that speaks officially for the United Methodist Church, has taken no stand on current legislation, but has been a strong advocate for universal health care. Read resolution 3201 in The United Methodist Book of Resolutions 2008 for the position on health-care coverage passed by the 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. Purchase the Book of Resolutions at cokesbury.com
The General Board of Church and Society is the social advocacy agency of the United Methodist Church. Its responsibilities are outlined in ¶¶1002-1004 of The United Methodist Book of Discipline 2008. Part of those responsibilities includes educating legislators about the positions of the United Methodist Church. Under Internal Revenue Service definition, the work of the General Board of Church and Society is advocacy, not lobbying, because they are not asking Congress for anything that benefits the church (like pastor's housing allowances), but for measures that benefit others. The agency definitely does NOT offer gifts or perks to influence voting.