Swords into Plowshares

Vote on health care reform

Pray for wisdom, vision, and courage for the members of the House of Representatives as they vote today on health care reform.

Fort Hood Shooting

As our prayers continue for all impacted by and affected by the shooting at Fort Hood:

the senior Presbyterian military chaplain has addressed the event and

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has responded.

Study resource on Africa

Resolution on Africa: A Guide for Study and Reflection [PDF] is now available for download.

Based on "Resolution on Africa" approved by the 215th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the study is intended for youth of all ages. Former Stated Clerk, the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, notes that the study guide invites us to explore "our calling to be partners with Christians in Africa—and to do something about it!"

The study guide [PDF] has six sessions, but there probably is more material than can be covered in six one-hour sessions. Options are to expand the number of sessions or to be selective about the discussion questions to keep to a shorter time frame. The guide includes the resolution.

The sessions address a comprehensive range of topics and concerns:

• Introduction to Africa and the Church in Africa
• Singing a New Song:The African Church
• Diseases of Poverty (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis) and Health Issues
• Human Rights
• Development
• The Role of the PC(USA) with the Churches in Africa

In the closing words of the resolution [PDF]:

"Christians in Africa sing and pray every day for the kingdom of God. We can do no less than join them—and in so doing fortify and renew our faith by sharing the pilgrimage of God’s people everywhere who seek justice, peace, and freedom. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) joins African church partners in working for the liberation of all people worldwide."

Pause to say a prayer . . .

. . . for those slain and wounded at Fort Hood, those who love them, those impacted by and affected by this shooting . . . and for all victims of gun violence.

Witness and vigil at Fort Benning

Join the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship on November 20-22 at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA. They will be part of the annual event to close the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation training facility. This year's event will also call for an end to military aid to Mexico and Colombia, and will support the return of the elected democratic government of Honduras.

The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has reserved a block of rooms, and are arranging transportation from the Atlanta airport for those arriving Friday morning and leaving Monday afternoon. Workshops will be offered as well as a vigil on Sunday morning.

The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship will sponsor a breakfast on Saturday, November 21, from 7 - 9 a.m. at the Holiday Inn North, where we will celebrate PPF's 65th birthday; honor prisoners of conscience and Colombia accompaniment program volunteers; hear updates on PPF projects; and enjoy the fellowship of 60-80 Presbyterians! The cost is $10 for a full breakfast, and reservations are required.

After the Sunday morning vigil, meet at the PPF information table to walk together to the gate for a brief prayer and communion service.

For more information about housing or transportation, or for breakfast reservations, contact Marilyn White.

Support Health Care Reform - Contact Congress Today

From the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)    

Support Health Care Reform - Contact Congress Today

ACTION: Contact your member of Congress before Saturday, November 7th, and urge him/her to support H.R. 3962 - "The Affordable Health Care for America Act."

U.S. Capitol Switchboard - (202) 224-3121

For over 60 years, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assemblies have called for reform of the U.S. health system, urging the establishment of a national medical plan that will ensure health coverage for all persons residing in the United States.

 
The most recent General Assembly (2008) "endorse[d] in principle the provision of single-payer universal health care reform in which health care services are privately provided and publicly financed... as the program that best responds to the moral imperative of the gospel." [Minutes, 2008, p. 1133]
 
The U.S. House of Representatives is winding up its health care deliberations. "The Affordable Health Care for America Act" [H.R. 3962] blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed this summer by the House Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; and Education and Labor Committees. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 3962 on Saturday, November 7th.
 
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) believes that any reform plan should be guided by these values:
 
o Universal Accessibility: We believe that all people possess inherent worth as children of God, and that God's promise extends to all. Health coverage must be available to all persons living in the United States, regardless of income, race or ethnicity, geography, age, gender, employment status or health status [Minutes, 1994, p. 574; Minutes, 2002, p. 634]
 
o Equity: Because the right to acquire adequate health care springs out of our worth as living human beings, rather than out of any particular merit or achievement belonging to some but not to others, adequate health care should be defined equally for all people. [Minutes, 1976, pp. 203-207]
 
o Responsible Financing: Since society has an interest in the health of its people, those individuals and organizations who can pay should help to finance the care for those individuals and families who cannot pay [Minutes, 1991, p. 817]. While concerns for the costs of health care are appropriate, these concerns must continually be balanced against the objectives of access to adequate, quality care for all. The sacrifice of access and quality at the shrine of cost containment is too high a price to pay and should not be tolerated [Minutes, 1988, p. 525].
 
"The Affordable Health Care for America Act" [H.R. 3962] reflects these values and will move the U.S. health care system a step in the right direction to provide access to quality, affordable health care for all. Most of the bill's provisions would go into effect in 2013.
 
This bill will:

• Increase the number of legal U.S. residents with health insurance by 36 million by 2019.
• Expand Medicaid to include all individuals under age 65 (children, pregnant women, parents, and adults without dependent children) with incomes up to 150% of the poverty level.
• Provide subsidies to help lower income individuals and families purchase insurance and to lower their cost sharing obligations.
• Require individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a tax of 2.5% of their adjusted gross income above the income tax filing threshold up to the cost of an average insurance policy.
• Require employers with payrolls exceeding $500,000 per year to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a penalty (86% of American businesses would be exempt from this requirement, though most employees would be covered).
• Prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions.
• Eliminate underwriting based on health status, gender or occupation.
• Limit out-of-pocket expenses.
• Remove lifetime or annual coverage caps.
• Define "essential" benefits that must be covered by insurance plans.
• Create a National Health Insurance Exchange through which individual and employers can purchase qualified insurance, including from private health plans and the public health insurance option.
• Create a public health insurance option to be offered through the National Health Insurance Exchange that must meet the same requirements as private plans regarding benefit levels, provider networks, consumer protections, and cost-sharing.

Action:
Contact your member of Congress before Saturday, November 7th, and urge him/her to support H.R. 3962 - "The Affordable Health Care for America Act."
 
U.S. Capitol Switchboard - (202) 224-3121

Community of Living Traditions

Something new is happening at Stony Point Center.

An interfaith intentional community dedicated to nonviolence and peacemaking is in the making. For at least five years, Christians, Muslims and Jews will live together at Stony Point where they will work, worship and learn together.

Residents will move into the three houses that will comprise the community in January, according to co-director Kitty Ufford-Chase.

The Community of Living Traditions will offer workshops, camps and internships focusing on interfaith traditions and nonviolence.

This exciting new ministry was announced during a 60th anniversary and homecoming celebration of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)-related conference facility.

Partners in the Community of Living Traditions are:

Luke 6 Project

Shomer Shalom Institute for Jewish Nonviolence

Muslim Peace Fellowship

Hold this interfaith effort to work for nonviolence and seek peace in prayer.

UN General Assembly to consider UN probe into Gaza conflict

The United Nations General Assembly will meet on November 4 to consider the report [PDF] of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. The Mission was appointed on April 3, 2009 “to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that might have been committed at any time in the context of the military operations that were conducted in Gaza during the period from 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009, whether before, during or after.”

The four-person Mission presented its report [PDF] to the United Nations Human Rights Council on September 29, 2009. The report [PDF] concluded that both parties to the conflict likely committed war crimes during the fighting. The report has generated a great deal of discussion, controversy, and criticism.

The October 23 edition of Bill Moyers Journal featured an interview with Justice Richard Goldstone who served as the head of the Mission. Justice Goldstone came to prominence investigating the behavior of security forces during the apartheid regime in his native South Africa. He served as chief prosecutor of International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavian and Rwanda and has been part of investigations into Nazi war criminals hiding in Argentina and war crimes in Kosovo.

Moyers interviewed Justice Goldstone about “the report, his critics and why he believes international humanitarian law is an important part of the peace process.” View video and read the transcript of the interview.

Here are some other perspectives on the report:

• Amnesty International
• Human Rights Watch
• B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories 
• UN Goldstone Gaza Report sponsored by the Association for Human Rights in Israel™ 
• Breaking the Silence - testimonies of Israeli soldiers who participated in Operation Cast Lead in Gaza
• Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been involved in mission efforts in the Middle East for nearly two centuries. The denomination’s long-standing witness in Israel and Palestine involves working with partners in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Since 1948, General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessors have made statements calling for a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

General Assemblies have supported the work of the United Nations since 1946. Assemblies have seen the United Nations as a peacemaker, and a peace-builder, a forum for U.S. foreign policy making, and a guarantor of law and human rights in a troubled world. In addition, assemblies have consistently endorsed international law and supported human rights as they have proclaimed the life-giving vision of Jesus.

Q&A - The CTBT

Ask your Senators to work to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) calling for a global ban on nuclear tests was rejected by the United States Senate ten years ago. Over 180 countries have signed the treaty. Nine countries, including the united States, still need to ratify the CTBT for it to enter into force. 

Since 1946, General Assemblies [PDF] of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessors, acting out of faith in Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace, have understood that working for God’s intended order and life abundant involves seeking international disarmament and arms control measures. Assemblies have called for the creation of test ban treaty and have called the United States to ratify the treaty.

In a video presentation, Deepti Choubey addresses issues around the CTBT in Q&A format, describes the CTBT’s importance and how it impacts U.S. security. Choubey is deputy director of the Nonproliferation Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Those questions and answers in the presentation are:

•    What is the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty?

•    How will the CTBT impact the United States?

•    Will the United States ratify the treaty?

•    What are the prospects for the treaty entering into force?

•    How does the treaty relate to President Obama’s goal of a world free of nuclear weapons?

•    Does the CTBT influence U.S. national security?

American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving

We are making plans to celebrate Thanksgiving at our house - selecting the menu, sending invitations, renewing traditions.

The Education Office of the National Museum of the American Indian offers a teaching poster that presents "American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving."

Download American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving [PDF].

This teaching poster, designed for educators and students grades 4-8, examines the deeper meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday for American Indians through the themes of environment, community, encounters, and innovations. Appropriate for use at any time during the year, the poster includes information that is essential to understanding and teaching about American Indians along with compelling images and ideas for classroom activities.

The National Museum of the American Indian provides additional resources to use with the poster as well as educational resources on Native American histories and cultures.

The Office on Native American Congregational Support of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) passed along information about the teaching poster.