The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(A088)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 68th General Convention of the Episcopal Church invite its principal ecumenical and interfaith partners to join this Church in calling upon the President of the United States and the Congress to authorize and appoint a National Commission on the Reform of Health Care charged with making recommendations concerning ways in which health services in these United States may be more economically and efficiently made available in a fair and equitable manner to all Americans, addressing in the process the 1984 findings of the National Citizens Board of Inquiry Into Health in America; and be it further

Resolved, That this 68th General Convention recommends and affirms the support by local congregations of community preventive health programs, including participation in alcohol and drug counseling, school health classes, immunization programs, maternal-child education programs, environmental health programs, crisis centers, suicide prevention programs and poison control centers; and be it further

Resolved, That this 68th General Convention encourage development of lay ministry training programs in local congregations through which the pastoral care by the clergy can be extended to all ill members of their church community through lay visitation in homes and hospitals; and be it further

Resolved, That this 68th General Convention commends the many programs initiated by congregations in community outreach and services and encourages expanded efforts by all congregations to identify their community resources and assist in raising financial and personnel support for such health services as food kitchens, shelters for the homeless, legal aid centers, mental health centers, neighborhood health clinics, homes for physically and mentally handicapped persons, home health care, and halfway houses.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

In the second Resolved clause, third line:

delete the words "including participation in" and insert the words "such as."

Amend the third Resolved clause as follows:

Resolved, That this 68th General Convention encourage development of lay ministry training programs in local congregations in local congregations of training programs for lay persons through which the pastoral care by the clergy can be extended and strengthened to all ill members of their church community through lay visitation in homes and hospitals.

In the fourth Resolved clause, seventh line:

delete the words "physically and mentally handicapped persons" and insert the words "persons with physical or mental disabilities, or both," and after the words "home health care" add the words "hospice care for the dying and their families."

A vote on A088 was taken.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #121)