General Assembly Resolutions

NO. 0730
(ITEM FOR REFLECTION AND RESEARCH)
CONCERNING THE ETHICAL PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE IN A
RELIGIOUSLY PLURALISTIC SOCIETY

WHEREAS, the provision of health care is posing new ethical issues for contemporary society; and

WHEREAS, Disciples have historically supported the principle that religious dictates should not be used to limit women's access to a full range of reproductive health services (see Resolutions 7332, 7524, 8345, 8954, 9517); and

WHEREAS, universal access to health care is a growing social justice concern; and

WHEREAS, rapid changes in healthcare technologies and practices have created an abundance of vital information that is not always readily available to patients; and

WHEREAS, there is a increasing trend among health care institutions and individual health care providers not merely to arrive at their own particular decisions and set of values, but further to act in ways which impose these decisions and values upon others, thereby manifesting a lack of respect for the free exercise of conscience by patients and constricting the health services made available to the general public; and

WHEREAS, there is increasing concern for persons to create advance directives to specify end of life choices that would uphold the rights, dignity and desires of the person; and

WHEREAS, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) has developed a set of guidelines which address the issues raised above (see www.rcrc.org for complete report);

THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED that the 2007 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) meeting in Ft. Worth, Texas, in accordance with its understanding of the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and its commitment to the First Amendment protection of freedom of religion and the democratic values that unite our citizens, recommend for reflection and research the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) "Guidelines for the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society," a copy of which follows.

Bethany Christian Church, Tulsa, OK
University Place Christian Church, Enid, OK

The General Board recommends that the General Assembly
ACCEPT Business Item 0730 as an Item for Reflection and
Research. (Debate time 12 minutes).

Supporting Document: Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) "Guidelines for the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society" (PDF)

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