WHEREAS the current health care system in the United States fails to provide an equitable and accessible means of addressing health needs for an increasing number of citizens,

WHEREAS more than 34 million US citizens, including 12 million children, are without health insurance,

WHEREAS the US spends more on health care yet denies a higher percentage of its citizens health care benefits than any other industrialized country,

WHEREAS medical costs are increasing at approximately eight percent annually and are expected to double by the year 2000,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Church of the Brethren General Board, meeting in Elgin Illinois, march 7-10, 1992, commits itself and urges Brethren congregations, institutions, and members to:

Reaffirm our 1989 Annual Conference Statement on Health Care in the United States, which states our conviction that:

· As tangible evidence of the covenantal nature of our Christian faith, all persons should receive adequate health care as a basic human right and as a reflection of personal dignity; that

· The responsibility for fulfilling the right to adequate health care rests not only with the individual and society, but with government as an instrument of society; that

· Christians should model healthy lifestyles; and that

· Brethren should support legislation that promotes adequate health care for all.

Support the efforts and work in conjunction with other members of the Interreligious Health Care Access Campaign to:

· Seek a national health care plan that provides basic health care for all and minister to the needs of the whole person;

· Provide an organized means to educate the public to much needed changes in the US health care system, including decreasing dependence upon expensive technology;

· Assure the right of health care providers to deliver high quality care for just compensation with minimal governmental regulation and elimination of unnecessary malpractice litigation;

· Promote funding for needy students to study nursing, medicine, dentistry, and other healing arts without incurring burdensome financial debts;

· Recommend a national health policy that rectifies current inequalities through broad-based financial support and prospective budgeting aimed at reducing rapid inflation in the costs of services;

· Encourage expansions of the use of paramedical professionals such as nurse practitioners and midwives; and

· Promote the extension of quality care into geographical areas presently not well served.

Respond as individuals to

· Assess the extent of health care problems in our communities;

· Explore creating a health care committee within the congregation to promote health in the congregation and community; and

· Engage in regular and sustained communication with our elected officials regarding ongoing health care concerns.